Subtle

False Teachers

The Scripture is clear that we should expect false teaching in the world (1 John 4:1) and false teachers to even arise among us (2 Peter 2:1-2). Therefore, we should be vigilant that there are wolves who would seek to devour the sheep with the infectious disease of their heretical teaching. Many of these wolves even disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing and bring reproach upon the name of Christ (Matthew 7:15-20).  In the passage just mentioned, the Lord Jesus instructs us to judge the teachers according to the accuracy of their teaching.

Of course the only way to measure the accuracy of their teaching is against a sure and common standard. The only perfect and inerrant standard by which to judge Christian teaching must be the eternal word of God (2 Timothy 3:14-17). The Apostle Peter is quick to remind us that it is the living and abiding word of God that is the imperishable seed by which we have been born again (1 Peter 1:22-25).

False Teachings

Several heresies exist which have been repeated over the centuries since the establishment of the church. Heresies are different from errors. Error in doctrine or Biblical teaching is simply a wrong or ignorant view of a particular doctrine. But heresy is the denial or contradiction of an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. The distinction is about the serious nature of the specific incorrect teaching.

For example, a differing view on the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper would usually fall into the category of being in error, while denying the full humanity and deity of Christ would be heretical. The kingdom of God will be full of believers who had differences in this life of practices regarding the ordinances of the church. But everyone will have believed in the perfect God and man mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-6). This means that with the world full of both religious and secular false teachers we must be on our guard against every doctrine that conflicts with the message that has been given to us by our great God (Galatians 1:6-9).

Historically, the doctrines that have been attacked by heretics are those dealing with the person and work of Christ, as well as the nature and extent of the gospel. So, the target of the enemy is Christ and His bride, the church. The doctrines are essential to the hope of salvation and so they are malined by the debased and demonic enemies of God.

True Teachings

However, the danger of false teachers is not only the dissemination of false teachings, but also in introducing confusion about true teaching. False teachers do not only teach lies but also teach some things that are true. This is of course necessary for one purpose of making their false teachings believable. But this mixture of truth and error can also cast doubt on true doctrines. Just because a teaching was taught by a prideful and abusive false teacher does not mean that the doctrine itself is an error or a heresy. It also does not mean that the teaching is itself abusive or harmful. For example, a hammer can be used as a torturous tool of abuse or even murder, but it can also be used to build a home. Remember even Satan attempted to utilize and twist Scripture while tempting the Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).

My point in this post is that while we must be careful not to just accept every plausible or hopeful teaching that comes along (Ephesians 4:11-14), we also should not discount or disregard everything that may have been taught by a false teaching on the basis that it was taught by them, but we must test the teaching by the measure of the Scriptures. ​

---