Are There False Teachers Among Us?

Jude 4 talks about certain persons creeping in unnoticed into the church who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny that Jesus Christ is our only Master and Lord.

I’ve been observing over the past several years a rejection of the fundamental truths learned as children, that it is by faith that we are saved.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9

There are so many passages that mention it is through faith that we are saved. But many in the church over the years have taught that everyone is saved because of Christ dying on the cross. I thought that was pretty radical at the time.

Over the years I see the beliefs by these teachers within the church, evolving into greater apostasy. Is that an overreaction? Not only are congregations being taught that everyone has Jesus inside, that they just need to “wake up” to His presence, but many extra-biblical concepts. Consider these “new truths” being taught in many churches:

• The joining of different faiths together, not to evangelize but to blur doctrinal lines and deny the sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Muslims are being called brothers and sisters because we “all worship the same God.” Hinduism and Buddhism are being embraced as additional truths to Christianity.
• Entertaining teachings from radical “believers” who say that it doesn’t matter if the tomb was empty or not, what matters is that the disciples experienced something.
• Pastors teaching their congregations that God didn’t need some kind of mechanism to forgive sins…that is how the “ancients” viewed God. We need a new image of Jesus…not as a sin sacrifice. The way Jesus “saves” us from our sins is how Jesus lived His life. Oh, and its too bad that Jesus had to die, just think of what we would have learned from Him if He had lived to be 80 years old.
• Heaven and hell do not exist as taught in the Bible. They are whatever we experience on earth.
• Jesus is only one of many masters to take us to God. Buddha, Mohammed, and others are considered equally important as Jesus in the life of a Christian.
• Christian pastors walking their church through Hindu-type practices in their church services, e.g., opening their heart chakras to receive “the truth.”
• A congregation being taught that when you are mad at God (which is okay), you need to not only point your finger at Him, but maybe you need to stick your middle finger at Him.

There is much more. The people teaching these things are nice, gentle people. They have created an environment that is very inclusive, accepting, and loving. All churches should be this way, where anyone can walk in the front door and feel love coming from the congregation.

For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. II Corinthians 11:4, 13-15

Is it loving to deceive people with false teaching? I would contend that it is not. We can’t pick and choose doctrines from the Bible, twist them to suit our agenda, and then add in the teachings of other religions. Why not?

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.   –John 3:16-18

The Bible and Christianity make it clear who is the only Savior and that we are in need of Him. Jude makes it clear what will happen to false teachers.

These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts [in the presence of true believers] when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;

Wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.    –Jude 12, 13

Yes, there is much wrong with the Church. Hypocrites, legalism, spiritual abuse…but we can’t abandoned the truth because these teachers are nice people. Truth is truth. What does the Bible really say? Be discerning. Study the Bible as a whole. I love those people who are being deceived and write this not to condemn but to warn. The Bible does tell us that as time goes on there would be more and more false teaching and people would abandon the faith. I’m seeing it before my very eyes and it is breaking my heart.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24, 25

Test every spirit. Your eternity depends on it.

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