People aren’t inclined to put any specific Bible teacher in the category of “false teacher”. In fact, people are more afraid to say someone is a false teacher than they are to heed what the Bible says about them!
Most false teachers say a lot of true things, too. They appear to be doing God’s work. But the Bible warns us,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15
That’s a little harsh! Who said that?
Uh, that would be Jesus, the Son of God. Yes, they look like sheep, but they are wolves! People don’t believe it. They believe wolves will look like wolves.
“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15a
Many false teachers have huge followings because they’re entertaining. People “love” them. If they teach anything that doesn’t agree with God’s Word, people will often excuse it because, after all, “we really like most of what they say.”
People will say, “I don’t agree with what they say about (fill in the blank), but I really like him or her.” But what does the Bible say?
Nowhere in the Bible does it say it’s ok to teach false things as long as most of what one says is Biblical. No, that would be the description of a false teacher.
“If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:9
Isn’t that a little extreme, Paul? That isn’t very loving!
But the Bible clearly says that people who think that godliness is a means of financial gain are corrupt!
Is the teacher you love so much teaching what the Bible says about being a disciple or something else?
“. ..If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10
At the heart of following Jesus is Jesus’ call to imitate Him and replicate Him. As disciples, we are called to imitate Jesus’s love (John 13:34), his mission (Matt. 4:19), his humility (Phil. 2:5), his service (John 13:14), his suffering (1 Pet. 2:21), and his obedience to the Father (1 John 2:3–6). Since he is our teacher, we are to learn from him and strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to become like him (Luke 6:40). This growth in Christ-likeness is a lifelong endeavor that is fueled by the hopeful expectation that one day we will see him face to face (1 John 3:2–3). (Kell)
Paul exhorts Timothy,
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people 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. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
A big part of becoming a disciple is reading and studying the Bible, cover to cover, and then doing it again. It only takes 10 minutes a day to read the entire Bible in a year. And that’s the only way to be sure about what it really says! I encourage you to do this, not once, but every year!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
Sources: Discipleship According to the Scriptures, Pastor David Kell
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
