False teachers have been a concern since the very beginning of Christian faith. Unfortunately, it has become a smear toward anyone with a differing theological point of view, and as such it has become meaningless. Worse yet, it’s overuse has allowed truly false teachers, those Jesus called wolves in sheep’s clothing, to slip into the church.
If we accept certain core beliefs, then we must be able to disagree on what are really secondary ideas and dogma. To give an example we only need to look at the tragic meeting between Luther and Zwingli at Marburg in 1529. They discussed the possibility of working together in reforming the church. They came to agreements on all points except one, the Lord’s Supper, or the Eucharist. Both agreed that the Roman Catholic teaching of the priest performing a miracle and literally changing the bread and wine into Christ body and blood was wrong. However, Zwingli saw the elements as merely symbolic representations of Christ, while Luther saw the Spirit of Christ resting on the bread and wine so that Christians do eat His flesh and drink His blood. Both men were accomplished Biblical scholars who had read the Bible in the original Greek and translated Latin. Both saw the ambiguity of scripture supporting their own belief. Unfortunately, neither could see that since scripture neither confirmed nor denied their point of view it should have been left as a point of speculation and conscience. They ended up going their separate ways instead of uniting. Except on absolute core points, we must be able to have theological differences and still be united in fellowship.
What are the core values that if denied makes a false teacher. First it is confirming the nature of Christ, whether that is human nature (which the Gnostics in the 1st century denied), or his divine nature (which is being denied in the 21st century). Second is acknowledging that Christ is the only way to the Father, which is often denied today. Third is confirming the resurrection of Christ and of the faithful, which many “progressive Christians” are denying today. Finally, we must accept Christ grace by being justified by faith that drives us to obedience to his commands. In short, all Christians must accept faith filled grace as stated in the book of Romans as well as the acts of faithful obedience in the book of James. I know there are a lot of Christians, especially in my brotherhood, who are asking, “What about the rapture, and original sin, and etc. etc. etc.?” Those and others are important points, but we should not deny fellowship on them. We should instead come and reason together so that all sides can gain a better understanding. We need to humbly realize that all of us, yes all, can be true teachers while teaching an incomplete truth. But we should always strive to make our understanding of truth more complete.
Is reviewing doctrine the only way to test a teacher? Thankfully, no. I say thankfully because often false teachers are very charismatic and can often lead people away with cleaver argument and obscure knowledge. They may present some vague word in the original text and along with legalist argument turn understanding upside down. Fortunately, there is another test for a false teacher, and that is looking at his life. Usually someone teaching false doctrine is also leading a false life, and there are three tests for a false life.
The first test is pride. By pride I mean the false teacher won’t allow anyone to oppose him. Anyone that does will be brought low in the most vicious way. Even if it’s a long-standing disciple that is only asking about some inconsistency about something said when compared to past information. It is also common for a false teacher’s claims about his past to be untrue. Not just exaggerations, but outright lies. Moreover, the false teacher will often claim greater influence than he really has. Such as claiming a higher number of followers or more power over his followers than he really exercises. In short, the false teacher raises himself and his reputation higher than it deserves.
The second test is wealth. This isn’t just accumulating money, although it often does, but having the trappings of great wealth. Such as a private jet, or a mansion, or any other ostentatious display. There have been reports of such false teachers having the bathroom fixtures gold plated and diamond studded salt and pepper shakers. Even in improvised cults, the cult leader will have the very best of everything while the cult members starve and go ragged.
The final test is sex. The false teacher, which are usually men, will have multiple mistresses, affairs, or wives. And these affairs will usually be with women much, much younger than the false teacher, even to the point of pedophilia.
It is true that genuine teachers can stumble and sin in the ways listed above, especially in the area of sex. But always, when the genuine teacher is confronted with his sin, he will beg forgiveness and humble himself before God. Also, depending on how public the sin was, he will reduce his position of prominence and allow others to lead. For the genuine teacher it’s about the ministry, but for the false teacher it’s about himself.
The best teachers will insulate themselves from these temptations. This is exactly what Billy Graham did at the very start of his ministry. He never claimed to represent anyone but himself and he always used the lowest estimates of those attending his sermons. He separated himself from his ministry’s finances by taking a simple salary that was publicly known. Finally, he refused to be alone with any woman not his wife, even to the point of not getting on an elevator alone with a woman.
The astute believer realizes these tests for a false life are the temptations John listed in his first letter. These are “the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.”
You must realize that the false life is an important flag of a false teacher. Testing the teachers’ false lives is the first test, if they fail that move on.
#FalseTeachers, #Testing