What Does the Bible Say About False Teachers?
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
—Blaise Pascal
What is a prophet? And how can I recognize a true prophet from a false prophet?
A prophet is a messenger of God who carries a message directly and personally-related that is held to 100% consistency with Scripture and 100% fulfillment of any predictive statements.
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). See also Deuteronomy 18:15-22.
What is the difference between a prophet and a teacher?
Both roles include the element of teaching, but a prophet claims a direct encounter with God (dream, vision, meeting, voice, event, etc.) where God revealed or spoke a particular message to him.
How can I recognize a true teacher from a bad teacher? Or a bad teacher from a false teacher?
A bad teacher may misunderstand issues in Scripture or just do a poor job at instructing and exhorting people. A false teacher teaches “a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:3) and goes against “sound doctrines” (Titus 1:9) specifically with an understanding towards who God is, what salvation is, and what the Scriptures say.
Isn’t it wrong to publicly call out preachers, teachers, Christians, etc.?
The issue of “opinions” between Christian brothers is different from the issue of “false teachings.” Paul warns “not to quarrel over opinions” (Romans 14:1), pointing out the dangers of “passing judgment” on a brother in Christ and how it can “destroy the work of God” (Romans 14:20). However, God commands us to “judge” those inside the church when their lifestyles (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) do not line up with God’s Word. God also commands us to watch out for and confront false teachers who “teach a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Timothy 6:3). Pastors are specifically tasked to 1) "give instruction in sound doctrine" and 2) "rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9).
Should a false teacher be called out by name? If so, when?
When a specific false teaching or teacher is affecting a body of believers (i.e. family, small group, church, denomination, region, nation), that false teaching and teacher must be named and confronted. Paul does this with both false teachings (1 Timothy 1:3-20 ; 6:2-10, Jude 1, 2 Peter 2, & many more) and with particular names (Alexander, Hymenaeus, & Philetus in 1 Timothy 1:20 and 2 Timothy 2:17).
What are some examples of false teachings? What are some characteristics of false teachers?
There are many examples of false teachers with common descriptions (Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 & 2 Timothy, 1 & 2 John, Jude) that they may look and sound like Christians but whose teachings and lifestyle are not consistent with Scripture.
How can you call them false teachers when some of these people have doctrinal statements on their website and do many good things in getting the Bible and gospel into the hands of so many?
Christianity is not a salvation of works and although some “good fruits” may seem to exist in these ministries, they only mask the lies. The ends of a ministry (salvations, missions, good works) do not justify the means (a false gospel).
When false teachers lead people to Christ, are these converts false believers?
Not necessarily. If these believers have understood the gospel falsely, then their trust and faith in Jesus may be out of a greater love of Jesus’ gifts rather than Jesus. Even if they have become true followers of Jesus, they need to study the Word of God, test their teachers, and be extremely cautious before recommending a teacher to someone else.
What are some examples of Scriptures that are commonly misinterpreted and misapplied by the Word of Faith movement and “prosperity gospel”?
HEALTH-FOCUSED
3 John 2 says, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”
“Prosperity teachers interpret this verse to mean that God wants all believers to ‘prosper in all things.’ John’s purpose in writing 3 John 2 was not to teach doctrine; rather, he was simply opening his letter with a greeting. …the Greek term translated ‘prosperity,’ which is only used four times in Scripture, does not connote prosperity in terms of gaining material possessions. Rather, the word means ‘to grant a prosperous expedition and expeditious journey’ or ‘to lead by a direct and easy way.” (Jones & Woodbridge, 99-100).
Isaiah 53:4-5 tells us,“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Prosperity preachers will reference the later part of verse 5, “with his wounds we are healed” and will focus on God’s atonement (sacrifice on the cross) being focused on our physical healing. “First Peter 2:24 further clarifies the meaning of Isaiah 53:4-5. Peter writes, ‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. The context of Isaiah 53:5 indicates that the healing cited by the prophet is spiritual in nature—that is, the remission of sin.” (Jones & Woodbridge, 91).
WEALTH-FOCUSED
Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
One of the most prominent characteristics of prosperity theologians is their seeming fixation with the act of giving…often promot[ing] a give-to-get mentality. All believers need to do is sow a seed of faith—that is, donate money to the ministry—and God will bless their marriages, finances, or whatever help is desired. Within the prosperity system, the goal in giving is ultimately to serve oneself instead of others. (Jones and Woodbridge, 100-101).
Prosperity teachers misunderstanding of prayers to God for provision shows itself when they emphasize greedy wants instead of basic needs.
Galatians 6:7 tells us, “Do not be deceived, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
Prosperity gospel preachers emphasizing “sowing” in order to “reap” using this verse, missing the context that this passage is about reaping eternal life verses reaping corruption, not about reaping temporal/earthly rewards.
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
The greater context of this passage (v.6-15) is that what we reap is spiritual fruit for the purpose of meeting one another’s needs. Prosperity gospel preachers will often redefine their wants/desires as “needs.”
PROSPERITY-FOCUSED
John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Life that is abundant is synonymous with “eternal life” or “the life to come” which is ultimately focused on God and heavenly things, not on earthly/temporary things. Prosperity theologians like to emphasize “abundant living” here and now, redefining it as material and worldly success, ignoring the warnings of Scripture such as 1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” Abundant life is all about an eternity with Jesus, not an accumulation of material possessions.
Philippians 4:19 tells us, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Prosperity gospel preachers will point to God’s desire to satisfy us here and now with his “riches,” ignoring the countless Scriptures warning against wealth, embracing a right understanding of suffering and perseverance, and overlooking the fact that our “rich” inheritance is found only in Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
Paul is not teaching that Christ died on the cross for the purpose of increasing one’s material net worth. In fact, he is actually teaching the exact opposite. Contextually, it is clear that Paul was teaching the Corinthians that since Christ accomplished so much for them through the atonement, they ought to empty themselves of their riches in service of the Savior. This is why just five verses later Paul urges the Corinthians to give their wealth to their needy brothers, writing “your abundance at the present time should supply their need…that there might be fairness.’ (2 Corinthians 8:14).” (Jones and Woodbridge, 90).
WORDS OF FAITH
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Prosperity gospel teachers stress that there is power in our words. In support of their claim they quote verses such as Proverbs 18:21. Yet, a look at the full context of this verse sheds more light on its meaning… Old Testament scholar Duane Garrett writes, “The purpose of these verses is to warn against being too much in love with one’s own words.’ …this verse does not suggest that words have creative power, but rather that words can have both positive and negative effects upon people. As the Bible exhorts elsewhere, then, use your tongue wisely (see James 3:1-12).” (Jones & Woodbridge, 96)
Romans 4:17 says, “as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”
This passage is often used to explain that Christians have “creative power” as “little gods” with their “faith-filled” words. The context of the passage shows that it is God who “calls into existence the things that do not exist” and that it is not a power that has been given to people. Unfortunately prosperity preachers use this passage to encourage people to pray self-focused prayers.
James 4:2 tells us, “You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Prosperity gospel preachers often note that we ‘have not because we ask not’ (see James 4:2). They encourage believers to pray for personal success in all areas of life. But the prosperity gospel’s overemphasis on people turns prayer into a tool that believers can use to obtain their desires from God. Within prosperity theology, people—rather than God—become the focal point of prayer. Curiously prosperity gospel preachers often ignore the second half of James’ teaching on prayer, which reads, ‘You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your own passions.’ (James 4:3). God does not answer selfish requests that do not honor His name.” (Jones and Woodbridge, 96-97)
Philippians 4:6 says, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
We are called to make all of our requests known to God—but these are requests, not demands, not “claimed promises,” and not “declarations.” The problem is that the “prosperity gospel focuses so much on people’s desires that it can lead us to pray selfish, shallow, superficial prayers that do not bring God glory …when coupled with the prosperity doctrine of faith, the teaching about prayer encourages people to try manipulating God to get what they want – indeed a futile task. This is far removed from praying to God to see His will accomplished.” (Jones and Woodbridge, 99).
Is it possible for false teachers to turn to truth and become true teachers?
Yes, until we die, it is possible for anyone who is separated from God to turn to Him in salvation. Pray for their repentence and turning to the true Gospel of Christ.
If I have been following a false teacher, should I be embarrassed or ashamed? What does God want me to do in response to realizing that I was following a false teacher?
If you find that you have been following a bad or false teacher, repent of believing the lies that you heard/read and put on God's truths. If you have led or encouraged others towards those teachings/teachers, guide them into the truth.