10 TELLS OF FALSE TEACHERS: #7

Every book in the New Testament addresses false teachings or false teachers but one (Philemon). This series of blog posts will outline ten biblically sourced "tells," shared to help you discern truth from error and to determine if you are dealing with someone spreading deceptive doctrine.

Note: These posts are designed to share Truth, complete with scriptural references. While examples of modern-day false teachings are provided in general terms, know that in any given season, false doctrine will change. It transforms with the culture. Therefore, it's most beneficial to understand Truth rather than spend energy debating specific false doctrine or calling out specific false teachers. New false teachings and generations of false teachers will rise and fall, like fads. So stay focused on Jesus, contend for the faith, and read the Bible for yourself to be grounded in Truth.

Tell #7:

False teachers divide the Church with their false doctrine and sinful lifestyles, often portraying themselves as victims in the conflict. They claim abuse, betrayal, and "church hurt" to garner empathy or collect a larger following.

The apostle Paul cautions the Church about “those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” (Romans 16:17, italics mine). Not all conflict is problematic. Only that which goes against the truth found in God's Word. Paul tells the Romans to avoid such people because they are not really Christians. They don't consider Christ their Lord. Instead, they are selfish, wishing only to advance their own agendas. Paul also says these teachers will use flattery and appear to part of the Body of Christ in order to deceive others, usually those who do not know the Word of God well enough to detect the falsehoods. (Romans 16:18)

If these false teachers don't leave to join a different church (one that will approve of their sin), they will continue to stir up controversy with their damaging ideology.

Some people avoid true doctrine, calling it hyper-religious or legalistic. While it is true that doctrine can cause division, if the division is due to a disagreement over an important biblical teaching (an essential truth of the faith), division is not a bad thing!

Example: Hyper-grace teachers believe that when God looks at us, He only sees the righteousness and holiness we receive through faith in Christ. Their beliefs infer that the Holy Spirit will never convict believers of their sins because according to their teachings, once a Christian, there is no sin to convict.

Some of what these false teachers preach aligns with Scripture. However, these false teachers are dangerous because they ignore much of what the Bible says about repentance and sin and only focus on what fits their narrative, usually something that supports a sinful lifestyle, such as love is love, abortion is health care, or the prosperity gospel is true. Life is all "rainbows and cotton candy." Their teaching gives their followers the green light to behave in any way they see fit because their sins are already forgiven. It ultimately approves of “anything goes.” Some people say that those who believe this kind of teaching have "toxic empathy" (Allie Beth Stuckey) or "suicidal empathy" (Gad Saad). They just want to love others rather than hold to biblical boundaries. But that's not love at all.**

When love for the world eclipses love for Christ, division will occur.

False doctrine has a habit of spreading, as does the immoral behavior behind it. Paul uses the metaphor of leaven: "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). Paul is referring to the sinful behavior of sexual immorality in the church at Corinth.

Some things never change.

Paul continues by saying we must work to get rid of this harmful and corrupting leaven: "Get rid of the old leaven that you may be a new batch without leaven" (1 Corinthians 5: 7). The sin must be confronted openly. It must be corrected for the good of the individuals caught up in it and the good of the Church as a whole.

** Check out Loving Them to Death, an Amazon best-seller in Christian Discipleship.

*** Images created with the help of Grok to avoid identifying real people and create symbolic illustrations.