FALSE
PROPHETS & THE NEW TESTAMENT
Rev. Larry Thomas
Even occasional readers of the
Bible must be aware of Jesus' many warnings about the false messiahs and false
teachers that would abound in the last of the last days.
In fact, Christ talked about
these deceivers and their deception as being one of the first and clearest signs
of the closing days of this age. He warned the disciples 13 times in the Gospels
to be alert to such deceivers. The Lord provided criteria by which we could
identify these fakers and discern their true character --- or lack thereof.
We want to look at these
criteria. Some of these tests are difficult to apply to many of the nationally
televised impostors because much of their personal life and true teaching is
intentionally shrouded in secrecy. But try as they may, their real character is
revealed, at least to some degree, by their dealings with supporters and
employees, and their responses to biblical correction.
I am indebted to the late Donald
Stamps for his excellent notes on false teachers in the Full Life Study Bible.
His research and commentary have been both a time-saver and an instructional
blessing.
TESTING
FALSE TEACHERS
Our first task should be to
determine the person's true character, if possible. I'm convinced that a
person's true character is rarely revealed publicly. Only when a person is alone
with God is he really himself --- transparent, without guile, without pretense
and without any of the masks of Christianity.
For this reason, it is difficult
to know the true character of any man. We've unfortunately seen how many
celebrity Christians live their lives before the cameras, but are shocked when
their true character is revealed through a personal tragedy or fall from grace.
Violent tempers, physical and emotional abuse of spouses, children and
followers, covetousness and moral infidelity cannot normally be hidden for long.
When such flaws of character (aren't they really sins?) are revealed we can be
assured that the person is certainly a hypocrite, if not an out-and-out
impostor.
To the best of our ability, we
should try to determine if the teacher in question has a diligent and
disciplined prayer life. We should also be able to see the manifestation of the
fruit of the Spirit in his life. Does he display true compassion for the lost
and an equal hatred for evil? Does he loudly cry out against sin or whitewash it
and use meaningless euphemisms for the "S" word?
Besides the fruit of the Spirit
in the teacher's life, we should also be able to discern the fruit of his
ministry. Are his “converts"
totally committed to all of God's Word or just the teacher's favorite doctrines
or passages? Do the converts manifest the fruit of the Spirit?
Is there evidence of true repentance (not only confessing, but forsaking
of sin) or is the change in the person's life temporary or cosmetic?
Are the converts being discipled and integrated into the local church or
are they becoming "groupies" for their latest guru?
We should also endeavor to
discern the person's motives. Brother Stamps pointed our four things that true
Christian leaders will seek to do:
1) Honor Christ (II Corinthians
8:23; Philippians 1:20)
2) Lead the church into
sanctification (Acts 26:18; II Corinthians 6:16-18)
3) Save the lost (I Corinthians
9:19-22)
4)
Proclaim and defend the gospel of Christ and the apostles (Philippians 1:17; Jude 3)
If a minister or teacher is not
working toward these goals, his ministry must be suspect.
Finally, we should test the
man's integrity in the area of financial accountability. “Does he refuse large
sums of money for himself,” Brother Stamps asks. We should also ask if he
lives "high on the hog" when his supporters and congregants are just
getting by because of the great demands put on them by their teacher.
WE
CAN'T CATCH THEM ALL
Despite all we do to identify
false teachers by judging their life, their lifestyle and their message, there
will still be false teachers in the church. With Satan's help, they go
undetected for the most part. But eventually God will expose them for what they
are, if the church fails to do so. Nothing will remain hidden, the Word tells
us.
Let me quote Stamps here when it
comes to understanding how these impostors attain a place of influence in the
church. He says they do so in two ways.
"First, some false
teachers/preachers begin their ministry in sincerity, truth, purity and genuine
faith in Christ. Then because of their pride and their own immoral desires,
personal commitment and love to Christ gradually die. Consequently, they are
severed from the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21;
Ephesians 5:5-6) and become instruments of Satan while disguising themselves as
ministers of righteousness (See II Corinthians 11:15). Secondly, other false
teachers/ preachers are never genuine believers in Christ. Satan has planted
them within the church from the very beginning of their ministry (Matthew
13:24-28, 36-43), using their ability and charisma and aiding in their success.
His strategy is to place them in influential positions so that they can
undermine the genuine work of Christ. If they are discovered or exposed, Satan
knows that great damage will come to the gospel and that the name of Christ will
be put to open shame."
How should we respond to these
false teachers in the church? How can we identify them? Are we being divisive
and unscriptural to question their teaching? Is it right to judge? What tools do
we use to judge these teachers? Should we really call them by name? What should
their response be to correction?
The scriptures clearly answer
all these questions. I'll let the Word of God answer these questions and only
comment where I feel it will be helpful.
How
will we know false teachers?
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
"But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).
'If any man teaches otherwise,
and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing
... from such withdraw thyself' (I Timothy 6:3)
"Whosoever transgresses,
and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid
him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds" (II John 9-11).
Are
we to judge teachings?
"I speak as to wise men;
judge ye what I say" (I Corinthians 10:15).
"Let the prophets speak two
or three, and let the others judge" (I Corinthians 14:29).
"Prove all things; hold
fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21).
"These were more noble than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so (Acts
17:11).
"Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
"Therefore, brethren, stand
fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or
epistle" (II Thessalonians 2:15).
Are
we to openly challenge these false teachers?
"Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets
are gone out into this world" (I John 4:1).
"As I besought thee to
abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mayest charge some
that they teach no other doctrine" (I Timothy 1:3).
"Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine" (H Timothy 4:2).
"For there are many unruly
and vain talkers and deceivers ... whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert
whole houses, teachings things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake ...
Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus
1:10-13).
"I know your works, and thy labors, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them to be liars" (Revelation 2:2).
Are
there biblical precedents for naming these false teachers by name?
"But when Peter was come to
Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed"
(Galatians 2:11).
"Holding faith and a good
conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of
whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may
learn not to blaspheme" (I Timothy 1:19-20).
"This thou knowest, that
all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and
Hermogenes ... And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus
and Philetus who concerning the faith have erred" (II Timothy 1:15-18).
“I wrote to the church, but
Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against
us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither doth he himself
receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of
the church" (III John 9-10).
What
tools are available for judging these men and their teachings?
"Jesus answered and said
unto them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God"
(Matthew 22:29).
"All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instructions in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16).
"Till I come, give
attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine ... Take heed unto thyself,
and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Timothy 4:13, 16).
"Holding fast the faithful
word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to
exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9).
Are
we to judge these men?
"But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things" (I Corinthians 2:15).
"For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? (I Corinthians 5:12). [God judges those outside the church, Paul is saying, and the believers are to judge those inside the church. He goes on to say that we (the church) are to put away from the church the "wicked persons "].
"I speak to your shame. Is
it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to
judge between his brethren?" (I Corinthians 6:5). [The wise in the church
are able to make judgments concerning other believers in matters of morality and
doctrine.]
"Do ye not know that the
saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye
unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
How much more things that pertain to this life" (I Corinthians 6:2-3).
"Judge not according to the
appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
What
should be the Christian's response to false teachers and their teaching?
"Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offense contrary to the doctrine
which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 6:17)
"A man that is an heretic
after the first and second admonition reject" (Titus 3: 10).
"Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from
every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he
received from us" (11 Thessalonians 3:6).
"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed" (II Thessalonians 3:14).
This article is a reprint from Larry Thomas’ newsletter, The Inkhorn.
Rev. Thomas was the president of Amazing Grace Ministries as well as the
founding visionary for A.B.P. Br. Larry went to be with the Lord in 1997.