Where We Expose Faulty Teaching to Gain Godly Wisdom in This Modern World

Each month, we prayerfully dig into God's Word to discern truth from almost truth and help you learn how to defend your faith in a world where false teaching is enticing more and more people to turn from wisdom and righteous living.
Jeremiah 14:14, ESV
And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds."
Why This Blog?
My heart aches and has for years. It hurts for the many professing Christians who have fallen away from a biblical worldview. I see the rise of false teaching and false teachers claiming Christ-like missions but who regularly add to, distort, or omit the Word of God, compelling thousands to do the same—including people I know. In some cases, the distortion is minor in language but cataclysmic in messaging, even eliminating our need for Christ. In other cases, "Christians" have questioned or flat-out tossed aside the Bible. These leaders, these teachers, are not Christ-followers but self-followers. Most don't love God as much as they love themselves. Some are after fame or fortune. Others want to justify the sinful choices they've made. And I'm sure there are some that don't fully realize what they're doing but who refuse to be corrected out of pride.
What are the consequences? I fear false teachers' enticing messages and bold speech that float "almost truths" have lured many away—many who will miss the narrow gate (Matthew 7:14) and hear some of the most haunting words recorded by Jesus in the Bible:
"And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:23, ESV).
"Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
(Matthew 7:23, NIV).
"But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws'"
(Matthew 7:23, NLT).
It's a chilling passage, no matter the translation. And it should make us all pause, if not tremble.
To understand any verse, we must always start with the context, which we aim to do in this blog. In the verse above from Matthew, Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount with a warning about authentic faith. Simple belief without surrendering our will to God does not save us. The half-brother of Jesus, the disciple James, said even the demons believe there is only one, all-powerful God (James 2:19). These fallen angels have a formal, established (i.e., orthodox) faith but are not and will never be part of God's Kingdom (Revelation 12:7–9). Inspiring sermons and even pointing others to the faith aren't proof of salvation. The Lord, after all, can empower a donkey to speak for Him (Numbers 22)!

Christ declares that professing him as Lord is non-negotiable . . . but also not enough if you live one moment past this declaration. He says only those who do God’s will enter heaven (Matthew 7:21). Believing in Christ is just the beginning of obedience to God. Does this mean people are saved by works (i.e., what they do)? No! Absolutely not. Scripture teaches that all are saved by grace through faith, but true faith produces godly works (Ephesians 2:9–10). There is a heart change with authentic faith, one in which sin is no longer appealing. John 8:31 tells us Jesus also said, “‘If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples” (NET). Or, in the ESV, it reads, "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.'" Those who claim to be Christians but discredit biblical truth are not Christ-followers; they are false prophets.
Jesus predicted that false Christian prophets (i.e., false teachers) will come as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). They may attend church. They may call themselves faithful disciples or pastors or leaders. They may use all the right “Christian language,” encourage others, and even exhibit impressive influence over their "flocks," but they do not belong to the Lord.
This begs a few questions for professing Christians:
Does this matter to us?
Do you listen to or read content from false teachers?
Do you know when you do?
Can you discern truth from almost truth?
Are your loved ones following false teachers? If so, what should you do?
How can we avoid false teaching altogether?
How do we defend our faith in an increasingly hostile world?
We'll wrestle with these questions and others as we move through the Bible to unpack truth, sometimes with the help of guest experts of the faith.
I am the first to admit I am no Bible scholar. But we don't have to be. God does not want His will or His Word to be mysteries to His children. While there are places in the Bible that don't give definitive answers to specific questions, there is substantiative evidence throughout Scripture to determine truth, particularly when taken as a whole and read while open to the Holy Spirit.
While others will add some commentary to guide me—guide us—I'll bring the passion. God has put this holy ache in my heart, and I cannot ignore it any longer, come what may. My motivation is love—biblical love.
The audience for this blog are professing Christians. I hope no more Christians are tempted by alluring falsehoods that pull them away from obedience and therefore eternity with our Father in Heaven. I also want those already caught up in these lies to open their eyes and return to God—immediately! I understand this takes courage, especially when you're close to or have a relationship with a false teacher.
By the way, if you haven't yet made a decision for Christ, I invite you to follow along and stay curious. I have no doubt our loving God will meet you where you are. He did me when I was lost—very lost—and needed to be found.
I hope as we journey through "True or False?" you allow God’s wisdom to sink in—let it build a protective barrier against the false teachers and false gospels running rampant in this world. And always, always go to His Word first and foremost when confronted with something that sounds like false teaching. Test what others say against a full biblical worldview—even what I write in this blog. It's time for due diligence.
Deo Gloria,
Next Month: The Introduction (with Definitions)
P.S.
I will sometimes include audio insights, embedded in the posts, from me and others of the faith. Here is this month's additional material from yours truly.
Guidelines
As you read, learn, and possibly comment on posts, there are a few guidelines I ask you to follow. First, we are all loved by God. We must receive that love and pour it back out for others. So all comments, whether in agreement or disagreement, must be respectful. This blog will neither be for calling out false teachers by name nor to allow for ongoing debate (at least on this platform). Instead, I seek to inform readers by pointing them to biblical truth while encouraging them to think critically. Most of all, I hope readers open God's Word, perhaps more than they do now. I will use the Bible as the foundation for any statement or claim I make. However, I am open to correction and alternative thoughts and conclusions if based on a biblical worldview. There are essentials and nonessentials in the Christian faith. My goal is to stick like glue with the essentials, but there are so many non-essentials that lead to what's critical. So I ask everyone to be respectful in their responses. We're all learning. Thank you.

Legal Stuff
COPYRIGHT (c) 2024, Cortney Donelson. If you'd like to share or quote any of this content, please credit the "True or False?" Blog | vocem LLC, including the post title and date.
Not a legal requirement, but I want to give a shout-out to two co-laborers (co-strugglers?) in the battle to point people to the Bible and away from false teaching: Matt Dawson, lead pastor at Journey Church in Huntersville, NC and Janey Pitts, Bible scholar, speaker, and author in Panama City, Florida. They are kind enough to spar ideas, check my biblical accuracy, and review my conclusions.
Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT): Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.
Scripture marked NET is quoted from the New English Translation (NET) Bible® https://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
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It’s been a long while since I diligently read your devotionals from your Haiti days. I am excited see the scriptures through your work as the Holy Spirit guides you. Praying for you, your family and your ministry.
Curt
Praying for you and this undertaking to be Spirit led and effective in strengthening Biblical wisdom. Remember 2 Kings 6:16!
Thank you for being obedient; if there was ever a time, that time is now. I believe it’s Christian’s lack of action that has helped get us here. So many have failed to speak up with the belief that love equals tolerance of evil, forgetting that our Lord spoke against evil BECAUSE He loved. It’s my prayer that your blog reaches many and invokes a holy fire for truth that can’t be extinguished and invokes change and action.
For such a time as this, Cortney, we need to examine Biblical truths and push back against false teaching—even that being taught in mainstream denominations. Thank you for doing this. I look forward to a deeper examination of our faith.