Although well-intentioned and not meaning
harm, I think we can banter around a phrase in evangelical circles rather hastily.
I know I have been guilty of this. When people who are concerned about doctrinal
precision and interpretive accuracy discuss other preachers, teachers, authors,
etc., we might unthinkingly use words and phrases like "false
teachers". I suggest we give this
more thought.
False Teachers
Jesus, Himself said, ““Watch out for
false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15, NIV).
Perhaps Paul had them in mind when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (NIV):
13 For such
people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of
Christ. 14 And no
wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as
servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
False teachers are
deceptive. They creep in. They look good – initially. The malign the truth and particularly the
Gospel of Christ. False teachers are not
Christians. The Bible clearly calls those who add to the Gospel, who demean the person and nature of Christ, as false prophets. Those who made predictions that are untrue or prove untrue are also to be treated as false (e.g. Jeremiah 14:14).
Faulty Teaching
But there is another
category that we ought to consider. We
are all in danger of faulty teaching. The problem that faces everyone of us is
that “For we know in part and we prophesy in part,”
(1 Corinthians 13:9, NIV). False
prophets are not to be tolerated. Faulty teaching is to be corrected. Apollos needed this help by Aquila and Priscilla.
When they heard him “. . . they invited him to their home and explained to
him the way of God more adequately.” (Acts 18:26, NIV).
All of us who preach and teach need that
loving response. We are well-meaning and sincere, but we've
missed something. We need a caring
brother or sister to challenge our interpretative skills. If a brother differs from me in eschatology,
one or both of us is certainly faulty, but we may not be false. The ongoing challenge will be to sharpen one
another in regard to our hermeneutic.
Unhealthy Teaching
Equally as concerning is what I would call
"unhealthy" teaching.
Unfortunately much of this abounds.
I tend to frame it as "sensational" or "speculative"
teaching. Why audiences love that, I'm
not sure (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4) This I am sure: speculative
teaching sells books and earns money. Certainly
"false doctrine" is an issue, but Paul also warned Timothy about
those who “… devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things
promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by
faith.” (1 Timothy 1:4, NIV).
The clearest response to such teaching is
to “… learn … the meaning of
the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up
in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” (1
Corinthians 4:6, NIV). Even better, it
is wise to be Berean (see Acts 17:11).
Those that draw audiences and readers based
upon sensational, speculative gibberish, really do nothing to advance the work
of the Kingdom. Their teaching is
unhealthy and unhelpful. Paul instructed
Timothy: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching,
with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13, NIV). There he uses the Greek word, ὑγιαίνω meaning to be “wholesome” once, “be in
health” once, and “safe and sound.” [1]
We can be certain that where teachers do eisegesis and
not exegesis, their teaching will ultimately prove to harmful, hurtful and
dangerous.
So I think there is a difference between
false teachers, faulty teaching and unhealthy teaching. It behooves us to discriminate between them;
and even respond differently to them. I understand that there is still a degree of subjectivity. I of course have my own picture of modern-day false teachers. I also could implicate those I think are faulty teachers. Unfortunately I can name names of those who promote unhealthy instruction (perhaps to sell books, crowd out a church or even get an invitation to speak at another conference.). But I must also be careful to castigate those who are in need of brotherly caution and correction, for I too stand in that same position.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)
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