Books

Christian Leadership Training Course

By J.C. Choate

Lesson 25

Dealing With False Teaching

The preacher in particular, but also other leaders in the church, as well as all of the members, will have to deal with some false teaching along the way. I say the preacher in particular because he is constantly preaching, and many times moving about in both the general area, as well as in the local situation, and in meeting people he is going to be confronted with all kinds of teaching and in many instances he will be asked about different doctrines. What will he do in those cases? Ignore it, compromise, or try to answer it.

First, we should explain what we mean by false teaching. It is any teaching that is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. That would cover a lot of territory, naturally, since there are many different religions. But perhaps the average preacher would have to deal more with false teachings within the framework of Christianity, since he would be constantly around people in general who believe in Christ, and since his teaching, based on the Bible only, would differ with many of the accepted teachings in the so called “Christian community”. But even the people of the world, and those of other religions, would be familiar with a lot of things being taught in the name of Christianity, and they too would raise questions about these things.

All of this is to say that the Lord has a church, one church, established by Him, for which He died, is head of, and saviour of, with Christ being the foundation, and wearing the name of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Romans 16:16). The scriptures teach that those who obey the Lord are saved and Christ adds them to His church (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38,47).

Now in addition to that one church, there are many other churches. These were established by men; they wear the names of men; they worship according to the teachings of men; and most everything about them is based on false teaching. These churches tell you that there are different ways to be saved. About anything and everything that you can think of is taught by them. Now how can the people in general be aware of these things, these false teachings, unless these matters are compared to the teaching of God’s word and it is shown that the truth is superior to error. It is regrettable that any time has to be spent with false doctrine, but there is no way to escape it. If you don’t, then people will go on believing that which is false. Most of them will continue to believe it any way, but at least when the truth is preached, and false doctrine is condemned, then those who are seeking the truth can be saved.

The preacher therefore needs to study his Bible to the point that he is fully familiar with its over-all teaching. He must especially be well informed concerning the gospel, the church, worship, and other basic teachings that pertain to one’s salvation. Then he will do well to read and study the basic false doctrines in the various religious groups and learn how to answer them on the basis of what the Bible teaches. He must have confidence in the truth, have ability to deal with false teaching, and remove any doubts that the people may have when it comes to the difference between truth and error.

Even Christ and the apostles had to deal with false teaching. There were those coming to say that they were the Christ. The Lord warned, “Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or there! do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:23,24). Paul wrote, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18). To the church at Corinth, Paul pleaded, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Paul said to the Colossians, “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations –– do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using –– according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” (Colossians 2:20-22). John said, “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). Hear Christ as He says, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Again, He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23).

So the Lord and the apostles and the scriptures themselves are warning us against false teaching. Why? Because those who accept false teaching, instead of the truth, will be lost. Therefore we must warn people against error with the prayer that they will reject it and will go on to believe and obey the Lord that they might be saved.

No, the answer is not to shun false teaching and keep people ignorant and therefore unwarned against these dangers. Neither will it benefit anyone to compromise the truth and try to mix truth and error together. Truth mixed with false teaching is not truth and cannot save.

But in meeting false doctrine, that does not mean that we should stay on things like that all the time. Neither does it mean that when we do deal with those in error that we should be mean and ugly and deliberately try to destroy them. We must love them, and do all we can to show them the error of their way so they can be saved. We must not be dogmatic and refuse to listen and to study with those who are in error. Don’t write anyone off, but do all you can to save all with the truth of God, but remember that only the truth can make one free or save one.