What to do with a false teacher?

Romans 14:1 says, “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.” We should not condemn people whose faith is weak. There are disputable non-essential matters of which Christians should maintain fellowship despite their disagreement. But that does not mean that we are to accept another faith. Many things taught as Christianity are not Christianity at all. We are to fight for the true faith. Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Contend means to struggle or fight. Christians should strive for unity but not at the price of compromsing the one faith that has been entrusted to us.

Just because someone claims to be a Christian does not mean they are. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

Many claim to be teachers of the truth but are not. 2 Corinthians 11: 13 -15 warns us, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

1 Timothy 6: 3-5 says “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”

2 Timothy 3:1 -8 says, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth— men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.”

So what should we do about false teachers?

Watch Out For Them
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

Take Special Note of them.
2 Thessalonians 3:14 “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.”

Avoid them
Romans 16: 17-18 “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.”

Do Not Welcome Them
2 John 1:9-11 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”

Warn Them
Titus 3:10 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”

Rebuke Them
1 Titus 1:3 “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer”
Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach— and that for the sake of dishonest gain."

Label Them
Jesus called false teachers descriptive insulting names at least 20 times in the gospels. And yet he was without sin.
· Jesus called the false teachers of his day hypocrites 11 times
· Jesus called them snakes and vipers
· Jesus called them whitewashed tombs (which Paul does also in Acts 23:3)
· Jesus called them a wicked and adulterous generation
· Jesus called them sons of Hell
· Jesus called them blind fools
· Jesus called them blind guides
· Jesus called them ferocious wolves
· Jesus called them dogs
· Jesus called King Herod a female fox.

Anything I have ever said about a false teacher is soft and gentle compared to the example of Jesus Christ. False teachers are a real danger to people’s faith and should be watched out for, noted, avoided, warned, rebuked, not welcomed and labeled for what they are.