Beware of False Teachers

Beware of False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV) 1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 

Peter talked of false teachers during his time. I wonder if they were as bad as those today. Our false teachers are fabulously rich, have huge audiences and mix truth with heresy to woo their followers into believing they have the truth. I have watched them (on TV) deny the unique deity of Jesus, promise prosperity to everyone who sends them money and claim that God depends upon our faith to release His miracles.

False prophets deny the deity of Jesus. They will say that He is a son of God rather than the Son of God. They claim that everyone who knows God is God's son. They say that cats produce cats and dogs produce dogs and God produces gods. They bend scripture out of context as proof that they are biblical in this. 

False teachers appeal to the love of the world. They emphasize what can be gained on this earth rather than rewards reserved in heaven. The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life that prove the lack of love for God is their bait. They say that you can have all the pleasures you could ever want here on earth. They promise healing for every disease, money for every desire and power to accomplish whatever their followers want. These are all of this world. (1 John 2:15-16)

False teachers are greedy. They live in enormous houses, drive outrageously expensive vehicles and are treated better than rock stars wherever they go. They ask for money to fund their own lifestyles while claiming it is all for the ministry of the gospel. They use the laws of large numbers knowing that their huge audiences will produce some people who will see prosperity simply because of the odds. They promote these successes as normal and ignore the large majority who never see any prosperity even though they have donated all that they have to these false prophets.

False prophets depend upon what they can get on this earth now because they are doomed when they face judgement day. God is already preparing His judgement for them.

But what does that mean for us? Stay away from these false prophets. Look to see if the person you listen to is being conformed into the image of Christ. Jesus got donation but never worked for money. He never claimed that giving would make a person financially rich. Reaping and sowing was largely about spiritual rather than monetary rewards. Faith depends upon a word from God, not a word from a preacher. Stay away from those who have gotten rich off of God. Look for those who believe our best lives will not be found now.

A mega-church does not guarantee that the preacher is ungodly any more than a small church pastor is godly. Test every word you hear or read against the whole word of God. God has godly preachers. You are either called to be one or  to find one. Be careful because anyone can fall into the false prophet trap.