Posted on 01/10/2015 5:22:48 AM PST by Gamecock
Very few, if any, false teachers come into the church announcing their plans to lead Christ’s sheep astray or proclaiming that they are there to overturn the gospel. In fact, history proves that false teachers are often some of the most charismatic individuals you will meet. They have a “way with words,” able to sound mostly orthodox while denying, perhaps subtly, particular points that are necessary for faithfulness to our Lord. If they are confronted about this, they will often make a sweet-sounding appeal to unity, preying on people’s inclination to avoid controversy whenever possible.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with speaking well or crafting eloquent sermons, and one of our highest callings as believers is to seek unity among the brethren (Ps. 133:1). But when people lead others astray using smooth talk, or they seek unity that does not have truth as its foundation, they are to be avoided, even cast out of the church (Rom. 16:17-18; 1 John 2:19). For the good of the body, false teaching cannot be tolerated.
Paul’s warning about false teachers shows us how to identify them through signs other than the falsehood of the teaching itself. The first sign the Apostle gives is that false teachers serve “their own appetites.” Literally, Paul says the teachers serve their bellies. He refers here, by way of metaphor, to a lifestyle that reflects indulgence and egocentrism. Christian teachers are not prohibited from enjoying nice things, but they are prohibited from living ostentatiously—from making their paycheck their chief end in their labor. As Paul teaches elsewhere, men fit to fill the office of elder will not be lovers of money (1 Tim. 3:1-7).
The second sign of false teachers is “smooth talk and flattery.” This does not mean that pastors and teachers may not have gentle speech that people find pleasing, for Scripture says that “a gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Prov. 15:4). What the Apostle condemns is dishonest speech that is hidden by flattering comments and words that praise people for the sake of their approval and not because there is genuine sentiment behind it. False teachers use words to attract and retain others not for the sake of Christ but for their own sake. John Calvin comments, “The preachers of the gospel have also their courtesy and their pleasing manner, but joined with honesty, so that they neither soothe men with vain praises, nor flatter their vices: but impostors allure men by flattery, and spare and indulge their vices, that they may keep them attached to themselves.”
When it comes to false teaching, what matters is not really the form of the words spoken but their content and the intent behind them. Sometimes truth must be presented with harsh words, but often it can be conveyed with gentleness. Similarly, words of praise do not have to be insincere. Whether we are teachers or not, let us seek to speak only the truth, and let us do so with the gentleness or firmness the occasion requires.
Psalm 12:3-4
Proverbs 29:5
Daniel 11:32
1 Thessalonians 2:5
Think any of these guys might be?
1. Joel Osteen
2. Creflo Dollar
3. Benny Hinn
4. TD Jakes
5. Joyce Meyer
6. Paula White
7. Fred Price
8.Kenneth Copland
9. Robert Tilton
10. Eddie Long
11. Juanita Bynum
12. Paul Crouch
Just maybe!
Last March I attended a Joyce Meyer conference...this was after some disturbing family issues due to my Mother's passing...(can you imagine my shock when after 64 years I find out that I had come from a dysfunctional family...who knew???)...anyhow, to make a long story short, it dawned on me during this conference that what I was missing in my life was Jesus Christ...I started attending a local church...went thru their Discovery classes, was saved on June 20th and baptized on July 13th...I am a NEW person!
Which leads me to make a comment on the persons listed by jsanders...I am not familiar with all the names listed, but I do know of Osteen, TD Jakes, Joyce Meyer and Copeland...IMHO, I find these people to be more along the lines of feel-good motivational speakers rather than preachers?...if that makes sense?...at least that's what I got out of the Meyer's conference...
Congrats!
I was a late-comer and finally realized that Jesus was the missing link and turned to Him at age 52, some 10 years ago.
What a wonderful testimony that as long as life persists, the opportunity to be saved is there.
Praise God!
Many of the folks you listed are indeed questionable. Very questionable.
I have found Ligonier to be one of the soundest teaching ministries out there. There are others of course. I recommend you immerse yourself in a ministry that is focused on Christ for a season and get grounded. Then the others that, that are not sound, will be easier to identify.
Blessings on your journey!
Oh, to keep up with those who fall out under the “feel good motivational” type search the keyword YBPDLN. I try to keep up wit their antics.
Faux Christian priests/pastors have been serious danger for decades.
Decades ago I was stunned by these faux Christians destroying Parrishes/churches with their evil leadership. A series of them destroyed the church my mil and her parents belonged to for over a century. The gay/left wing pastors were so bad, she demanded that her funeral not be held in her church and a pastor from a different denomination. A year later the
Church closed.
Our Parrish for decades has hired new priests to help train them. I was stunned during interviews with candidates how many were not Christians and wanted to use our pulpit to preach their be,
During the interviews, I would ask them if they were Christian s and if they had any problems with the Gospels, the Niciene crede and being a Christian? I was stunned by those who admitted they would have problems being a Christian.
After, I stopped being on the selection committee, a radical sneaky left winger was hired. After him, my successor on the committee uses my ?’s, and we have had good selections.
The loser helped to close a Parrish he went to about 2 years. He doesn’t last long in a parrish.
?
Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
The problem is the naivety of Christians who think that just because someone invokes the name of Jesus, they must be a Christian. Or if they say *God told me in a vision or dream* that there's no questioning it or YOU'RE the bad guy.
Don't touch the Lord's anointed, they quote at you.
Well, Yeah there's wisdom in that but who's to say that THEY'RE the Lord's anointed? Them?
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Praise God and the angels rejoiced!!
13. Rob Bell
And then there is Rob Bell! ;-)
EVERY STINKING ONE OF THEM QUALIFIES!! All of those listed are false teachers and prophets. Rick Warren, daddy of Chrislam. Mixture of izzlam and Christianity.
Self ping
Add Pope Francis and the College of Cardinals to that list.
Thank you all...:)
They will stay away from the direct teaching of the Gospels as much as possible.
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