Lessons From False Teachers

Lessons From False Teachers

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False Teachers Are Deceptive

False teachers are deceptive. They do not announce themselves as false teachers, but proclaim themselves angels of light, people who have access to wisdom others have missed or misplaced. As Denny Burk says, “False teachers typically won’t show up to your church wearing a sandwich board saying, ‘I am a false teacher’.” Instead they begin within the bounds of orthodoxy and announce themselves only slowly and through their subtly-twisted doctrine. They turn away from orthodoxy one step at a time rather than all at once.

False Teachers Are Dangerous

False teachers are dangerous, and part of what makes them so dangerous is that they will affirm so much that is good and true. They will not deny all of the doctrines upon which the Christian faith stands or falls, but only select parts of it. They draw in the unsuspecting with all they affirm and only later destroy them with all they deny. There is an important lesson: We only know a person when we understand both what he affirms and what he denies.

False Teachers Give People What They Want

As Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy he warned that the time was coming when people would not endure sound teaching (and hence, sound teachers) but instead they would have itching ears and demand teachers who would satisfy this itch. False teachers do this very thing. Their concern is not for what people truly need, but for what people want. The concern of the Christian is the exact opposite—the gospel does not address what we want, but what we need!

False Teachers Are Not Innocent

False teachers know they are false teachers. This may not be true all the time, and perhaps some false teachers deceive themselves before they deceive others. But I believe most know who and what they are; in fact, I believe most know and delight in who and what they are. They are not naive people who have taken a wrong turn in their theology, but evil people who are out to destroy others. Their attack on truth is far more brazen than we may like to think.

False Teachers Cannot Tolerate the Gospel

False teachers simply cannot tolerate the gospel. At some level and in some way, they will always add to or subtract from the pure and sweet gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They may affirm the Trinity or inerrancy or the deity of Jesus Christ, but they will never fully affirm the gospel of the Bible.

14 Comments

  • Reply December 27, 2019

    Varnel Watson

    “I regularly read and watch Southern Baptist pastors as well as keep up with numerous Baptist blogs and I can assure you that there are dire days ahead for this convention. There is a marked departure from Scripture and that never ends well.
    Here are some of the danger signs:
    1. Preaching that nationalism is a sin.
    2. Preaching that the church is guilty of racism and needs to repent.
    3. Preaching that white people are responsible for racism in America.
    4. Ordaining women as pastors and preachers.
    5. Denying the infallibility and authority of Scripture.
    6. Openly embracing the LGBTQ agenda.

    In light of this, I am wondering where the modern day prophets are… The pulpits are strangely silent.”

    • Isara Mo
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Isara Mo

      Troy Day
      FALSE teachers and false teaching is resounding from most altars not the Southern Baptist pastors only.
      In the absence of the Spirit of God carnal teaching always holds sway and considering most are graduates of the art called theology some with degrees, it is imperative that human preaching and teaching supersedes the set standard of ” men spoke as moved by Spirit” and change it to “men spoke as moved by their own minds”
      We are in a situation whereby VOX POPULI chose what they WANT TO HEAR not what GOD wants them to hear..
      But Troy this was prophesied well before we were were born.

      //For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.//

      If there was no AUDIENCE there wouldn’t be FALSE TEACHERS.. or prophets of apostles..

  • Joe Absher
    Reply December 27, 2019

    Joe Absher

    Heard a great statement once ” it’s the stuff they leave out that causes people to suffer ” the late brother Norvel

    • Reply December 27, 2019

      Varnel Watson

      great statements from great preachers is often false – I remember precisely 7 yrs ago a famed preacher with many radio vans preaching rapture will take place at the end of 2012 #fakenews and a Christian hoax William DeArteaga When it didnt happen he hid away from the media somewhere in TX if I remember it fight Ricky Grimsley may know more

    • Joe Absher
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Joe Absher

      The hen doesn’t cackle until after she lays the egg

    • Isara Mo
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Isara Mo

      Joe Absher
      Brother Joe if people don’t love the STUFF the peddlers will cease their trade.
      FALSE teachers thrive on an audience with itching ears and goggling eyes..

    • Joe Absher
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Joe Absher

      Sadly there’s always a market for self engrandisement .

    • Isara Mo
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Isara Mo

      Joe Absher
      SELF ENGRANDISMENT..

    • Joe Absher
      Reply December 27, 2019

      Joe Absher

      Actually had an interesting conversation with the manger as they were finishing the signage .

  • Reply December 27, 2019

    Varnel Watson

    Matthew 23:9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ – a very definite aorist imperative no arguing with it ; Not same as teacher – we dont call no one holy teacher and it is not said we have one teacher in Heaven but it does say the reason we call NO one father is because our Father is in Heaven

  • Joe Absher
    Reply December 27, 2019

    Joe Absher

    You are tagging the wrong man . look at the field my friend it’s not afar off.

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