Christ First Forum

Dealing With False Teachers

Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-10
I. Introduction: Do you know how to identify false teaching? Using the Word of God, can you support what you believe? Are you confident that your children can distinguish between truth and falsehood? It's essential that you know how to defend your faith against the heresies taught by today’s cults and false teachers.
II. Message:

A. Spiritual deception is nothing new.
In Colossians, Paul addressed several heresies, including the claims that Jesus was not God and works were necessary for salvation. The apostle encouraged the Colossian church to remember what they had been taught and to continue following Christ (Col. 2:1-10).
A number of other New Testament passages warn against false teachers: 2 Corinthians 11:1-4; Matthew 24:11; Mark 13:5-6; 2 Peter 3:17-18; and 1 John 4:1-6.

B. Where do false teachers operate?
They often build cults. A leader might assemble a group of people to perform non-biblical rituals or observe strict rules. If he teaches from the Bible at all, he uses it primarily to validate his “special calling” or his claim to be the messiah. Sexual immorality, child abuse, group suicide, and other types of unhealthy relationships and behaviors often characterize cults.
Sometimes false teachers participate in mainstream churches. Such people believe only portions of God’s Word. They question fundamentals of the faith, such as the virgin birth, the second coming of Christ, and the importance of receiving salvation before death. That’s why church leaders searching for a new pastor should verify that he has a vital, growing relationship with the Lord, not just that he is a member of their denomination.

C. What are the consequences of trusting a false teacher? Danger: Since their primary purpose is to control and use people, false teachers don’t seek to lead others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.Division: Such leaders often cause conflict that breaks up families and churches. Disillusionment: They make promises on behalf of God, without telling people how to seek Him. Then, when followers gradually give up on personal time with the Lord, their lives become empty. Only Jesus Christ can fill a person.
Drifting: False teachers often cause believers to neglect close fellowship with God. In the absence of a vital, growing relationship with Jesus, Christians stop bearing spiritual fruit. False teaching is also destructive to those who don’t believe. When a cult leaves them feeling empty and defeated, they will think faith has failed them (1 Tim. 4:1).

D. How do we protect ourselves from false teaching? Cling to God’s Word as your faithful guide in life (Titus 1:9). Don't let anything—magazines, television, sports, or even time with your family—come between you and Scripture. If you don’t make time for the Bible, you will gradually lose hope, assurance, and your spiritual foundation.
Study the Scriptures under a trustworthy teacher. This person should believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. His lifestyle should be consistent with his teaching and the Bible.
Refute false doctrine by comparing it to the Word. Scripture is the reliable standard for truth (2 Tim. 3:16).
Take precautions to protect yourself from hearing false doctrine. Second John 7-10 instructs us not to greet those who want to deceive us. If you decide to discuss faith with members of a cult, be bold in your proclamation of the truth, and don’t be drawn into fruitless debate.
III. Closing: Our culture is more and more open to spiritual ideas that do not align with the Word of God, and hostile to ones that do (2 Tim. 4:3-4). That’s why it’s important for Christians to know what they believe, and also why they believe it. Know biblical truth, seek to live by it, and stay in close fellowship with Jesus Christ. With the right preparation, you will be less likely to fall prey to spiritual predators.

I'm going to quote Dick York again, he has some great teachings on this..
There is so much false teaching going on today, the attacks on basic Bible doctrine abound.

This is from one of Dick's editorials...God's Word...Well almost.

Strip Mining For Nuggets

I have, from time to time, likened the practice of studying very deeply into certain specific doctrinal positions before reading the whole Bible, to shaft mining. That means we dig deep holes in our Bibles and become firmly convinced of a doctrinal position before we have read unbiasedly everything in scripture that would modify our conclusions. All scripture is profitable for doctrine. Therefore a continual, contextual reading of the whole Bible is an invaluable pursuit which I would liken to strip mining. As we read through the whole Bible – not only the delightfully familiar green pastures whose content we absorb so easily; but also the tedious desert portions that seem to be filled with unimportant facts, unpronounceable names, and incomprehensible ceremonies – everything is kept in context: and every once in a while, even the desert places blossom like a rose, yielding fruits and flowers that produce spiritual revelation so key to our understanding whatever else God is teaching us, which we would have otherwise missed. All scripture is profitable for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.

The Word of God gives light: it gives understanding to the simple. But modern man in his sophistication and arrogance, apart from the Spirit of God, has trouble understanding God’s simple ways. Therefore he is inclined to try to adapt the Word to the natural man’s almost non-existent ability to understand by revising it downward; while it is God’s plan to let the Word revise the man upward, and add to his spiritual stature, line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little and there a little (Isaiah 28:10), until he is conformed to the image of Christ.

Just click on editorial...thought you might like to check out his biography, too.
http://www.dickyork.net/