15 Factors in Discerning a False Teacher or Movement
- An Introduction to Theology
- Does Doctrine Really Matter?
- 15 Factors in Discerning a False Teacher or Movement
- How To Deal with So Many Opposing Views
- Categories of Groups and Errors in Theology
- Why So Many Different Beliefs Exist
- Are the people marked by wanting to have their ears tickled? And do the preachers preach what entertains, or do they preach the whole counsel of God? (2 Timothy 4:3 / Acts 20:26-27)
- Do they depart from sound doctrine? (2 Timothy 4:3)
- False teachers enjoy criticizing the obviously faithful ministers of the Word. (2 Cor. 10:10)
- Do they rally behind a fable, that is, a philosophy rather than a Person and His Word? (Colossians 2:8)
- Do they fit the description of a lukewarm church? (Revelation 3)
- Is their ministry transparent and sincere? (2 Timothy 3:14)
- Is the movement marked by manipulation techniques, rather than what Scripture describes the Spirit of God producing? (Ephesians 5:18 / 1 John 2:26-27)
- Is the movement marked by monetary incentives? (1 Timothy 6:10)
- Is the movement more or less acceptable in the world’s eyes? (1 John 4:5-6)
- Do adherents and teachers of the movement simply recite their movement’s beliefs, rather than exhibit throughout knowledge of Scripture’s doctrines and true conviction of them? (1 Timothy 1:6-7)
- Does the movement exhibit some new, secret, or over-emphasized knowledge, rather than the exposition of the clear, historically-adhered-to truths of the Bible in its orthodox meaning? (1 Timothy 6:20-21)
- What kind of people does the movement produce? False converts, emotionalistic followers, and disillusioned rebels? Or truly convicted people of the Word? (Acts 20:29)
- False teachers have a stronger grip on their people than Scripture allows. They are lords, not shepherds. (1 Peter 5:3).
- False teachings and movements are partial in their obedience, emphasizing their preferred laws rather than the fundamental matters. (Matt. 23:23)
- Falseness always has reversals: man-centeredness rather than God-centeredness, or philosophy-centeredness rather than Scripture-centeredness, etc. (Galatians 1:10)
