When we are born again, we have to adjust our lifestyle. There is much grace for the transition while we learn how to walk out our faith, however, it is critical to be aware of what we fill ourselves with during the infancy of our Christianity especially. We need a solid foundation to begin our lives afresh.
The Bible warns us many times of false teachers. There will be those who try to use the name of Christ to push their own agendas and lead us into darkness. We must be aware and careful of those who lead and teach us. A false teacher can lead us into a worse place than we were before we became a believer.
How then, do we recognize these false teachers if we are new to the faith and not sound in the word? Here are a few tips.
The word is over complicated.
The way Jesus taught on earth was by comparing Kingdom principles to situations his audience would be familiar with in the form of parables. He laid things out plainly and simply for the people. Teachers of the gospel should be able to make the word relatable to us today. If you feel someone is over complicating things and reading into things not directly written in the book, it may be a sign that they are a false teacher. Now saying the principles are simple doesn't mean they are easy to apply in our lives. That takes continual adjustments as we grow in our relationship with Jesus. However, it should be clear to us how we are instructed to live.
We are not free from the bondage of sin.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Jesus died on that cross to save us from the pain and suffering that sin brings into our lives. When we are a new creation in Him, he begins to patch up our lives and make us into who we are supposed to be. The healing process takes time and revelation based on your personal relationship with Jesus. For some it happens more quickly than others, but it is always a process. However, if you are not noticing any freedom after a while, it may be due to misdirection from those around you. False teachers will lead us into further bondage, not freedom. Be conscious of this.
2 Peter 2:19-22 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” (NLT)
Division and strife is prevalent in the body.
When motives of the heart are corrupt, there is not unity but division. People will purposely stir up trouble with gossip and rumors intended to break apart the body of Christ. Jesus taught unity and oneness in his church. If you feel like there is a lot of division, you may want to consider those around you. Granted some drama is going to happen in any church and there are sometimes outliers who will be divisive. But in a healthy body, plots to divide are shut down quickly. Be aware of what is going on within the body.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (NIV)
Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (ESV)
Leaders talk more about themselves than of Jesus.
A healthy leader will always point their flock to Jesus, the only one who can save and redeem us. There is nothing good in us apart from Him and talking of the righteousness of man without including Him is to teach a different gospel! It is idol worship! We do not worship man or any other idols, we worship God. Who is your leader talking about?
Romans 7:18-19, 24-25 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (NIV)
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. (NLT)
A different gospel is preached.
The Bible tells us never to trust any other "gospel" even if it comes from an angel of light, because Satan can even disguise himself as such (Galatians 1:8). There is one gospel and one gospel only and it proclaims the name of Jesus Christ above every name! He will never deny Himself or go against His own word. There will never be anything additional to the Bible. Do not trust anything contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. (ESV)
The Bible warns us many times of false teachers. There will be those who try to use the name of Christ to push their own agendas and lead us into darkness. We must be aware and careful of those who lead and teach us. A false teacher can lead us into a worse place than we were before we became a believer.
How then, do we recognize these false teachers if we are new to the faith and not sound in the word? Here are a few tips.
The word is over complicated.
The way Jesus taught on earth was by comparing Kingdom principles to situations his audience would be familiar with in the form of parables. He laid things out plainly and simply for the people. Teachers of the gospel should be able to make the word relatable to us today. If you feel someone is over complicating things and reading into things not directly written in the book, it may be a sign that they are a false teacher. Now saying the principles are simple doesn't mean they are easy to apply in our lives. That takes continual adjustments as we grow in our relationship with Jesus. However, it should be clear to us how we are instructed to live.
We are not free from the bondage of sin.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Jesus died on that cross to save us from the pain and suffering that sin brings into our lives. When we are a new creation in Him, he begins to patch up our lives and make us into who we are supposed to be. The healing process takes time and revelation based on your personal relationship with Jesus. For some it happens more quickly than others, but it is always a process. However, if you are not noticing any freedom after a while, it may be due to misdirection from those around you. False teachers will lead us into further bondage, not freedom. Be conscious of this.
2 Peter 2:19-22 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” (NLT)
Division and strife is prevalent in the body.
When motives of the heart are corrupt, there is not unity but division. People will purposely stir up trouble with gossip and rumors intended to break apart the body of Christ. Jesus taught unity and oneness in his church. If you feel like there is a lot of division, you may want to consider those around you. Granted some drama is going to happen in any church and there are sometimes outliers who will be divisive. But in a healthy body, plots to divide are shut down quickly. Be aware of what is going on within the body.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (NIV)
Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (ESV)
Leaders talk more about themselves than of Jesus.
A healthy leader will always point their flock to Jesus, the only one who can save and redeem us. There is nothing good in us apart from Him and talking of the righteousness of man without including Him is to teach a different gospel! It is idol worship! We do not worship man or any other idols, we worship God. Who is your leader talking about?
Romans 7:18-19, 24-25 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (NIV)
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. (NLT)
A different gospel is preached.
The Bible tells us never to trust any other "gospel" even if it comes from an angel of light, because Satan can even disguise himself as such (Galatians 1:8). There is one gospel and one gospel only and it proclaims the name of Jesus Christ above every name! He will never deny Himself or go against His own word. There will never be anything additional to the Bible. Do not trust anything contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. (ESV)
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