You Might Have a False Teacher in Your Church

There are countless Christian denominations around the world today, filled with true and devout Christians. However, within these denominations, there are also outright and blatant heretics.

You must know, be convinced of, and be willing to shed blood for the fact that there is such a thing as true faith. A faithful Christian is someone who knows the truth, believes it, and strives to be obedient. These are faithful people, but was does the Bible say about "the faith"?

The Faith

Paul describes the faith:

"But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed." (Galatians 1:23 KJV).

Having been transformed, Paul now preached the faith! What was he preaching? It was a definite body of truth. When you heard him preach, you could write it down, understand what he said, what he believed, and why he believed it.

There is a revealed message that Paul didn't make up. He received it from Christ Himself. Paul didn't preach his feelings; he preached the message, as a herald, that Christ had given him. Paul calls this "the faith."

Here is the truth:

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism," (Ephesians 4:5 KJV).

One Lord, who is Jesus Christ. The one faith is the one truth that binds Christians together. It is a definitive set of truths to be believed and embraced.

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" (Philippians 1:27 KJV).

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 3–4 KJV).

A deposit box is where you put your treasures in a bank. No one may touch them there. When you retrieve them, they are exactly as you left them. The gospel is the same. It has been once delivered to the saints. It is the body of truth. It is our responsibility to receive it, guard it, and pass it on unchanged. This is only possible because the faith can be defined.

The Gospel Can Be Clearly Defined

There is such a thing as sound doctrine:

"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." (Romans 6:17 KJV).

There was a form of teaching and a definable gospel that you believed. You must embrace this truth to be saved.

I urge you, brethren, to be wary of people who do not follow the doctrine which you have learned. People who divide churches are those who are unsound in doctrine.

There is such a thing as a different gospel being taught in the church:

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6–8 KJV).

This is a very strong statement. However, it is not strong enough for Paul. He goes on:

"As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:9–10 KJV).

There is only one gospel… just one! If anybody, even an angel, preaches to you in the name of Christ any other body of truth except the true gospel of Christ, we are not even to consider that person a Christian.

The gospel is not a feeling; it is a body of truth that is defined.

God uses this one truth as a saving experience for the lost, bringing people to Him through His power.

Now, if you look at the confessions of faith across denominations, you will see differences, usually in areas like baptism or church governance. But on the truths of God, the Holy Spirit, sin, the covenant, salvation, sanctification, and judgment, there is unity.

The gospel is definable. Peppered throughout these documents are Bible references. The word of God alone is sufficient for our belief.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine …" (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV).

Scripture is all you need for our faith. God revealed His mind to our church.

There are False Teachers

Here are the characteristics of a false teacher. They come into our churches and do their work there. They are astray in doctrine. They don't believe in our body of truth.

Their methods are deceitful. They are pleasant, which throws us off because we expect them to be easily recognizable. They are not. They are flattering, deceitful, and smooth-talking.

Because their teaching is a false gospel, it promises you heaven but actually sends you to hell.

Here is proof that this is true:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17–18 KJV).

They are in the church, they spread false doctrine, their methods are deceitful, and they lead you down the road of error.

And they are in churches within your denomination. Don't mistake that they could not possibly be in your church:

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1 KJV).

These destructive heresies could be found in your Sunday morning church. Certain men might creep in unnoticed who are ungodly and who turn the grace of God into falsehoods.

What to Do With False Teachers?

The Bible speaks very plainly on what to do. Don't ignore this. You must watch out for them. Note who they are. There is a spirit of antichrist in the church-watch out for them. You must be aware that they are around.

You are to have nothing to do with them:

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. " (2 Timothy 3:5 KJV).

These people have a form of godliness but deny its power. Turn away from them! The message they bring deceives and ruins the church. People go to hell because of false teachers. The world must know that a true Christian does not align with their teachings.

This is harsh for sure, but Christian love for the world demands this action. What we teach is not two versions of the same thing.

Here it is again:

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." (2 John 1:10–11 KJV).

We must be kind to the deceived, but these are people who peddle false doctrine and expect to stay in your house. If you greet them and allow them in your house, people will not be able to distinguish between the two of you.

We must speak plainly to them:

"Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers." (2 Timothy 2:14 KJV).

They creep into your church, and you see the error. Stop them in their tracks. You must speak to them.

Some people who are in error will repent. Rebuke is a means of grace God uses to change people. Sometimes it is necessary to upset people. This is rare within the American church today. It is taught that we must never ruffle feathers, and to do so is not love. However, this might be the only way to bring them to their senses.

If these people stay as they are, they are to be excommunicated. This means that we are not even to consider them Christians. Let that person be accursed, said Paul. Reject them. The problem today is that the false teacher comes along and nothing is said.

What if You Are On Staff at a Church Like This?

Sometimes these men are allowed to remain in ministry, sometimes as pastors, for years and years. The church should make it plain to them they are not welcome.

This teaching on false teachers is desperately needed in the American church today. The gospel message has been eroded by false teachers. We have a weak church, and I think this is largely the reason. We skip this teaching.

Just because your senior pastor is a good speaker, dresses in a suit, and tells you partial truths doesn't mean he is in the faith. You should have nothing to do with this person.

What if you serve on staff in a church like this?

You cannot stay there. If the false teacher is not open to discipline and the church body is allowing it to happen then you must leave. That's the reality of the situation.

God's teaching may cost you in the short term. You may lose your livelihood or close friendships that have been years in the making, but you do serve a faithful God who expects no less from you.

Does "being nice" or your financial stability mean more to you than the purity of the gospel?

I believe this verse applies:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6 14 KJV).

Friends, do not touch the unclean. God is our Father and we are his sons and daughters and holiness does matter.