Contrary to what might appear from listening to the generic Protestant, there are lots of false teachers in the world and in the church. Anything that does not conform to Christ’s revealed message is false. We often say (correctly) that one sin makes one a sinner (see James 2:10). Wouldn’t it be just as accurate to say “one false teaching makes one a false teacher?” At least in that regard? What that suggests is that every Bible student but especially public teachers need to be extra vigilant that what we teach is consistent with Christ’s teachings (see James 3:1).
The whole chapter of 2 Peter 2 is dedicated to condemning false prophets who teach “destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves” (2:1). Incidentally, please observe that this one verse destroys the idea that one can’t fall from grace… Notice that these men “denied the Master who bought them” – so we know they were saved – and they bring “swift destruction upon themselves” – so we know they are now lost!
In Acts 20:30, Paul warned the elders of Ephesus: “from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” False preachers stand in the pulpit because shepherds have shirked their responsibility to the Chief Shepherd to guard the flock. In 1 Timothy 4:1, to the same congregation (Ephesus), Paul wrote: “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”
In a second letter to the same group of Christians, Paul writes: “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
God warns over and over and over again that there will arise false teachers within the church: Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Colossians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 1:6; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; Titus 1:16; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 Peter 3:16; 1 John 2:18; 4:1; Jude 4.
Every disagreement in the church is not a matter of opinion! We give aid and comfort to the enemy (Satan) when we treat doctrinal issues as if they are a matter of opinion. If Jesus has spoken on a matter, it is not a matter of opinion! The Scriptures lay on us the obligation to properly understand the word of God.
Paul Holland
