The Danger of False Teachers
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
2 Peter 2:1–3
There is an array of religious material and instruction available today. There are books, audio and video series, teaching programs, broadcasts, and online teaching on almost any topic you can imagine. Yet, when a vast quantity of those teachings are evaluated in light of God’s Word, it quickly becomes apparent that they do not match. In fact, our world is overflowing with false doctrine and false teachers.
This spread of heretical teaching should not come as a surprise because it is not new. There may be more forms of communication and availability of such teaching in our day, but warnings about false prophets are thousands of years old. The Apostle John warned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Each of us has a responsibility to be careful about the influences and teaching we allow into our hearts and minds. We cannot blindly accept a teacher just because he is popular or well spoken. Some of the most eloquent pulpiteers of history have been purveyors of heresy. While we must also be careful not to become critical and harsh, we must not allow anyone or anything to draw us away from the unchanged and unchangeable truth of the Bible.
2 Peter 2:1–3
There is an array of religious material and instruction available today. There are books, audio and video series, teaching programs, broadcasts, and online teaching on almost any topic you can imagine. Yet, when a vast quantity of those teachings are evaluated in light of God’s Word, it quickly becomes apparent that they do not match. In fact, our world is overflowing with false doctrine and false teachers.
This spread of heretical teaching should not come as a surprise because it is not new. There may be more forms of communication and availability of such teaching in our day, but warnings about false prophets are thousands of years old. The Apostle John warned, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Each of us has a responsibility to be careful about the influences and teaching we allow into our hearts and minds. We cannot blindly accept a teacher just because he is popular or well spoken. Some of the most eloquent pulpiteers of history have been purveyors of heresy. While we must also be careful not to become critical and harsh, we must not allow anyone or anything to draw us away from the unchanged and unchangeable truth of the Bible.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Do not accept any teaching or teacher, no matter how eloquent, who contradicts the Word of God.
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