Archive for the ‘False Teachers’ Category
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
I was directed to John MacArthur’s blog where he has been discussing the prosperity gospel, and the absolute fraud it is. I thought I would link to the articles he has posted. If you follow the prosperity preachers, you might want to check these out. It is a 5 part series (so far), and he shows how this deception is not new. Even Paul Crouch’s son has gone onto the blog to leave comments. I may not agree with John MacArthur on all points of Theology, but we definitely agree on this one.
Thursday, December 4th, 2008
Quoting AW Pink . . .
The Lord’s command in Mark 4:24 is “take heed what ye hear”. Corrupt nature is thoroughly in love with error and will more readily and eagerly receive false rather than true doctrine. Should any dispute this statement, we would refer them to Jeremiah 5:31: “the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so”. Said Christ unto the Jews, “because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:45): what a commentary on fallen human nature – had He preached lies they would have promptly received Him.
Alas, what is man: he will run greedily after something new and sensational, but is soon bored by the old story of the Gospel.
How feeble is the Christian, how weak his faith, how fickle and unstable the moment he is left to himself. Peter, the most courageous and forward of the apostles in his profession, denied his Master when challenged by a maid. Even when given a heart to love the Truth, we still have “itching ears” for novelties and errors, as the Israelites welcomed the manna at first, but soon grew weary of it and lusted after the fleshpots of Egypt.
Real and urgent then is our need to heed this command,
“Beware of false prophets.”
From: Sermon on the Mount
It makes me think of how wonderful our God is since He gave us scripture and the Holy Spirit to battle with our bent toward evil, so that we can overcome the flesh and live in the Spirit. What a stern warning to “examine yourself to see if you be in the faith”.
I think of all the people who love it when “the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so”. In Isaiah it was described as coming from the people themselves:
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
It amazes me when you read the epistles to the churches, how many of the epistles were warnings of false doctrines that spread so quickly throughout the believers. How much more today with 2 thousand years of the imagination of men and doctrines of demons perverting the very word of God. Just as in the days of the Judges the people of God desired not to serve Him directly, but desired a king to lead them.
I see this as a call to have the light of God’s word shine in all the areas of my life. As David said:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Friday, September 12th, 2008
In the wake of my post called “Eat the Meat, Spit out the Bones” Pastor Wendell Smith came out with a blog post called “Scandal and Restoration” regarding the Lakeland Revival and the falling of Todd Bently. The base argument of his post is to not get bitter or disillusioned by the fall of a leader.
My only response is if you don’t exalt men so high in the church (senior pastors), but exalt Jesus, when men fall they won’t leave or get bitter because Jesus will never fall. Also, don’t be so flippant and lazy on false doctrine…especially in your own church.
John Piper, on the other hand, also came out with a blog post talking about the issue. I believe his response is a good warning of the false doctrine, including the ones prevalent in the prosperity gospel and word of faith.
Read Wendell’s Blog
Read John Piper’s Blog
Tags: Pastor Wendell Smith, Prosperity Gospel, Wendell Smith
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Eat the Meat, Spit out the Bones has always been a statement that bothers me. It is thrown out to say we should not worry about some false teaching mixed in with the bible, but just be mature enough to “Eat the Meat, Spit out the Bones”. I have a friend who asks, would you eat a bowl of ice cream if you knew there was a little dung mixed in, even if you knew you wouldn’t taste it? Of course not, and false teaching is like dung. Below is an article that I tend to agree with:
EAT THE MEAT, SPIT OUT THE BONES
There are a lot of clever-sounding sayings that make the rounds among Christians, and one of these is “eat the meat, and spit out the bones.” Many have written to exhort me to do this, and they mean that I shouldn’t worry so much about exposing error. They wonder why I can’t just “eat the meat, and spit out the bones.”
There is a bit of truth to this saying, in that God’s people are always to exercise biblical discernment when hearing sermons or reading Christian books. We are to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
But the Bible also twice warns that “a little leaven leaventh the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 5:9) and exhorts us to mark and avoid those who teach doctrine contrary to that which we have learned in Scripture (Rom. 16:17). There is great danger in eating the wrong spiritual meat!
What if the meat is rotten or poisoned or hasn’t been cooked or properly stored? The U.S. government regulates how restaurants must cook meat, because undercooked meat is dangerous. When I worked in a restaurant in my youth, I was taught to handle the meat very carefully and to store it properly, because it spoils easily. If you eat meat that is spoiled or poisoned or undercooked, even if you spit out the bones, you will be in trouble. The writings of men like Brian McLaren and Richard Foster and Chuck Colson and Rick Warren contain plenty of rotten meat. Those who advise God’s people to “eat the meat, and spit out the bones,” must explain to us how they know that this “meat” is safe.
Also, what if the bones have splinters or what if you get a bone stuck in your throat? When I was growing up in Florida, I went fishing often with my dad and granddad, and they were careful about which fish they kept and which they threw away, because some had too many bones to eat safely. And Mom was very careful to keep an eye on us when we were eating fish because of the ever-present danger of getting a bone stuck in our throats. This happened from time to time anyway, and it was a very unpleasant thing and, in fact, can be fatal. Likewise, very few Christians are able to wade through sermons or books by compromising preachers on their own and expertly spit out all of the “bones” of error.
And what if you don’t know the difference between meat and bones? A toddler doesn’t know the difference, and if it tries to eat meat and spit out bones, it will quickly be in trouble. Likewise, the average Christian today is far too biblically ignorant and carnal to distinguish properly between truth and cleverly presented error.
My friends, beware of clever sayings that aren’t supported by Scripture.
We live in a shallow, apostate, carnal age, and it behooves us to study the Bible diligently and to think biblically!!!!
Written by David Cloud
|Hat Tip: sermonindex.net|
Tags: false teacher, Prosperity Gospel, The City Church, Word of Faith
Friday, July 6th, 2007
This is part 2 in a series about false teachers as described in the Bible. You can see part 1 here.
In this article I wish to show the Bible teaches the following:
- We are warned of False teachers many times in the Bible
- Many will follow these false teachers
- False teachers will take your money, while stirring up covetousness in the hearers
- It is a very serious thing to be led astray by a false teacher – we are responsible to seek sound doctrine
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Perhaps the most recognized warning of false teachers in the Bible. Jesus warns us to look out for people who look like, sound like, act like and to all outward appearance seem to be prophets of Jesus Christ. The sad part is, they are not of Jesus Christ.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Peter warns us of the false teachers where:
- They will bring damnable heresies
- Many will follow them
- Make up stories to stir up covetousness (promises of wealth?)
- And take money from the people
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18
According to Paul in Romans, false teachers will teach things outside of sound doctrine and with charisma will deceive the simple.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11
Again, we see many prophets will arise, and many will follow them.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. Titus 1:10-11
It looks like they are after your money again. Look out for those who ask you for money every chance they get. We should be generous and freely give, but I went to a church where the #1 topic was money and how we should give to the church. Not balanced doctrine.
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Timothy 6:5
Here we have people telling us if we are godly, then we will get wealth. We are told to withdraw from those that teach this message. As an editorial, this is one of the most popular messages preached today, the prosperity gospel. It teaches if you are godly (and they equate tithing with being godly) you will gain wealth.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Timothy 4:3
People will flock to these false teachers because they will speak smooth words to make them feel good. The false gospel will allow them to seek after their own lusts and still feel like they are serving God.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:16
The false teachers will profess to know God, but even their good works are reprobate. This is consistent with the leaven of false doctrine. It permeates and ruins the whole lump.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1 Timothy 4:1
Not cool.
Does that sound like a ministry near you? If so, here is our responsibility.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
We are to study, pray and search after God’s righteousness. Jesus said:
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
If we hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness, and search out His will with humility His Spirit will guide us into all truth.
Tags: False Teachers, Prosperity Gospel
Monday, June 11th, 2007
I was listening to a message from Zac Poonen called “How to Escape Deception” (click here to download and listen to the sermon) where he talks about different biblical warnings of deception.
I highly recommend the sermon, it was great.
One thing he said really made me think. He talked about this quote from Jesus:
 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Matthew 24 4:5
What Zac Poonen suggested was that when Jesus said “many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ” they would not be professing to be the Christ, but they are saying Jesus is Christ.
I always thought it meant something like this, “many shall come in my name, claiming they are the Christ”. The problem is Jesus said they will claim “I am Christ” – does he mean they will profess Jesus to be Christ. He said this too:
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 7:22-24
Does anyone have an opinion about this? The way Zac Poonen describes it makes sense in light of all the false teachers who claim that Jesus is the Christ, but teach a false gospel (the prosperity message, Mormons, Jehovah Witness, word of faith). I don’t want to believe Zac’s interpretation because it already fits into my beliefs on these false teachers, I want to know if it is true.
I am interested to hear your thoughts!
Tags: Deception, False Teachers
Thursday, May 24th, 2007
When I attended the City Church Pastor Wendell heralded Kenneth Hagin as the “Father of Faith”. I find this interesting that so many do this in direct disobedience to Jesus; “call no man Father” Matthew 23:9. I believe Jesus taught this so we would not fall in the trap of believing men over God, as so many trapped in the “Word of Faith” heresy do.
Kenneth Hagin is heralded to be the originator of the “word of faith” doctrine that has spawned many of the health and wealth preacher of today. Many of the well known teachers such as Kenneth Copeland, Leroy Thompson, Charles Capps and lesser known ones (like Pastor Wendell).
Unfortunately he is a well known plagiarist from E.W. Kenyon. For side-by-side examples of the plagiarism, you should view this web page.
The modern “faith movement” (that the City Church is a part of) has it’s roots in Gnostic beliefs (see this article).
One of the things I find appalling is how undiscerning (and un-practical) the followers of these leaders are. If God wants all Christians to be healed by the atonement, then why do the leaders (gurus) of this movement get sick at the same rate everyone else does. If God wants us to be wealthy and prosperous, why does the vast majority of wealth lie in the hands of unregenerate sinners? Is God’s hand short? NO. Their theology is false.
We are told to study the scriptures to see if what we are taught is true. If these “name it and claim it” teachings were so important, don’t you think Paul would have said something about it…especially when he wrote about the sick?
See 2 Timothy 4:20:
Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
Why didn’t Paul just use his faith muscles and have Trophimus healed? Why didn’t Paul ask Timothy to rebuke the symptoms of Trophimus and use faith filled words to heal him? I can tell you why, because Paul knew biblical faith and the healing of Trophimus was in the hands of a sovereign and merciful God. God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, not on those who can conjure up enough faith and say the magic (faith filled) words.
I also found this article outlining some of the hypocrisy from within the movement when it comes to sickness.
I pray and hope that many who are being seduced by the unbiblical promise of health and provision would not follow Christ for these fleshly desires. I was personally dragged into these doctrines and seduced by the promise of money for following God (being taught godliness is a means to financial gain ).
Jesus even turned away people who followed him for the food (provision). Read John 6:25-70 where Jesus drove the multitudes away with the hard words of the Gospel, not bringing them in with soothing words of comfort. Today, health and wealth preachers widen the road to salvation with soothing promises for the flesh.
Why should we follow Jesus? Peter answered that question:
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67,68
Notice he didn’t say “because of the miracles you perform” or “because you feed and cloth us”, but because He is the Bread of Life, the Son of God!
It is wrong to take the focus off of who Christ is. We should emphasis how we benefit from Christ spiritually, and not put the emphasis on how we can benefit from God physically. We should look at the example Jesus gave in John chapter 6 for this.
In conclusion (this is getting to long) the main advocates of this doctrine show the same level of health as the rest of the world. Even local Seattle preachers of this heresy are fighting major sickness in their bodies in opposition to what they teach. They even go to doctors just like the heathen do.
One thing is for sure, the preachers of this doctrine do live a life of wealth like they preach…unfortunately it is often off the backs of those who need money or health. They claim “if you have a need, sow a seed” and make money off the needy. Shame on them.
Tags: Kenneth Hagin
Monday, May 14th, 2007
I have been spending some time looking at what the characteristics of heretics are through the scriptures. You can see me use some of these scriptures throughout the previous posts on the blog. I decided to do a quick survey to see what the Church Fathers said about heretics in the first few centuries of the Church. It turns out there is nothing new under the sun. I got my quotes from “A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs.” by David W. Bercot, Editor.
Let us rather be mindful of the sayings of the Lord, and of the letters of the apostles. For they have all told us beforehand that there will be heresies. And, in anticipation, they have given us warnings to avoid them. Tertullian (c. 197 A.D.)
Tertullian admonishes us to take heed to the warnings in scriptures regarding heresies. Obviously these things sprung up quickly, and they continue until today.
Therefore, on account of the heresies, the toil of discovery must be undertaken. Yet, we must not at all abandon [the truth]. Suppose that fruit were set before us. Some of it was real and ripe, and some was made of wax. However, the was fruit was as much like the real as is possible. Would we abstain from both kinds of fruit merely because of the similarity? … Among garden-grown vegetables, weeds also spring up. Are gardeners, then, to desist from gardening? Clement of Alexandria (c. 195 A.D.)
Clement of Alexandria talks about wax fruit that looks almost identical to real fruit. As a side note, I find it interesting they had wax fruit way back then, I was surprised. I think we find heresies today that look almost identical to the real thing, until you impartially stack it up with the proper division of scriptures and look for the true fruits of love, peace, and contentment.
In addition, they will add a good deal respecting the high authority of each teacher of heresy. They will relate how that these men strengthened belief in their own doctrine through mighty works, how that they raised the dead, restored the sick, foretold the future – so that they might deservedly be regarded as apostles. As if this warning were not also in the written record: that many would come who were to work even the greatest miracles, in defense of the deception of their corrupt preaching. Tertullian (c. 197, A.D.)
Not only was there an abundance of false teaching in 197 A.D., but they were backed up with spectacular miracles. This sounds like many of the faith healers of today, they preach things contrary to the scriptures, but are accepted because of the miracles they perform.
A better god has been discovered [by the heretics]: one who never takes offense, is never angry, never inflicts punishments, has prepared no fire in Gehenna, and requires no gnashing of teeth in the outer darkness! He is purely and simply “good.” He indeed forbids all the delinquency – but only in word. He is in you, if you are willing to pay him homage. This is for the sake of appearances, so that you may seem to honor God. For He does not want your fear. Tertullian (c. 207 A.D.)
I often heard that God does not inflict sickness, does not cause natural disasters, does not do anything “bad” in the world…it is all the Devil. Never mind all the examples of God doing these things throughout scripture.
How do heretics use scripture?
Those who give themselves up to pleasures, twist scripture in accordance with their lusts… However, when those who follow heresies venture to avail themselves of the prophetic scriptures, [they do the following]: In the first place, they do not use all the scriptures. Secondly, they do not quote them entirely. Finally, they do not quote them as the body and context of prophecy prescribes. Rather, selecting ambiguous expressions, they twist them to suit their own opinions, gathering a few expressions here and there. Instead of looking to the sense, they make use of the mere words. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195 A.D.)
I find this particularly descriptive of the “word of faith” and “prosperity gospel”. They take scriptures out of context of the whole of scripture and they take small portions of scripture to derive there “messages” and twist them from the initial intent to fit the message they wish to give. Not only that, some profess to be modern prophets who can add to scripture with “fresh revelation”. These are very crafty in their persuasions. One of their favorite claims is to say that Jesus talked about money over 500 times. This is a laughable assumption, because not one of Jesus’s quotes back up their claims…but many of them warn of the seeking of riches. They ignore the warnings of seeking riches and use the Bible to back up their claims on cash.
Those who seek to set up some new dogma have the habit of very readily perverting into a conformity with their own notions any proofs they care to take from the Scriptures… Consequently, in addition to what has been once committed to us by the apostles, a disciple of Christ should receive nothing new as doctrine. Disputation of Archelaus and Manes (c 320 A.D.)
I believe the new doctrines of today (Word Faith and Prosperity Gospel) are exactly what these writings are opposing. To see some small examples of what I am talking about visit the posts below:
Leroy Thompson at the City Church – This is Leroy Thompson talking about a new doctrine lost in the halls of religion
Pator Judah Smith on “the Yolk” – An example of a preacher taking a scripture out of context to fit the point he wants to make
Tags: Early Church, Heretics
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