C.E. Schenk, contributing to the International
Standard Encyclopedia would agree with my friend Tim Goodbrand that discerning the
difference between a false minister and a true minister isn't as easy as one
thinks: Schenk writes:
"The distinction between the
true and the false prophecy and prophets is very difficult to state. Broadly
speaking, the false prophesying related itself to the national ideal
independently of any spiritual quality, while the true prophesying ever kept
uppermost the spiritual conception of the national life."[1]
I think it is a correct observation to suggest that there is a very fine
line between what is false and what is harmful or not helpful. But a broad survey of the Bible reflects
certain symptoms like inaccurate predictions, lies and deception, an antithesis
to Biblical orthodoxy and a persuasion toward idolatry and immorality.[2]
Dr. Walter
Kaiser writes, "The
fullest discussion of charges that could be brought against false prophets can
be found in Jeremiah 23:9-39. Jeremiah condemns the pseudoprophets on four
grounds:
(1) they
are men of immoral character (v. 14) "they commit adultery
and live a lie";
(2) they
seek popular acclaim with their unconditional pledge of immunity
from all imminent disasters (vv. 17-22);
(3) they
fail to distinguish their own dreams from a word from God (vv.
25-29); and
(4) they
are plagiarists who steal from one another words allegedly from
the Lord (vv. 30-39)."[3]
[Emphasis is mine.]
A specific passage of Scripture to contemplate is the letter of
Jude. In verse 11, Jude writes, "11 Woe to them!
They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s
error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion." Cain represents a man-made religion of
self-effort. Balaam represents those
multitudes that are motivated by greed, leading people into error. They are
rebellious of lawful authority and their doom, like Korah's, is established. Peter also addresses this company of
individuals in 2
Peter 2:1-3.
Here are some signs of a false minister/ministry:
#1.
Disregard for the Historic Faith. Again Jude wrote: “Dear friends,
although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt
compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to God’s holy people.”
(Jude 3,
NIV) . There is a commonly help historic
faith, often expressed in orthodox creeds.
These I suggest are the non-negotiables.
These are the hills to die on. My
list would include:
a. The
Tri-Unity of God.
b. The
humanity and deity of Jesus Christ.
c.
The deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit.
d. The
virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
e. The
completed work of Christ received by faith.
f.
The bodily resurrection of Christ.
g.
The inerrancy of Scripture and therefore the authority and sufficiency of Scripture.
h. The regenerate nature and
Lordship of Jesus Christ over His True Church, locally, universally and for all
time.
i.
The return of Jesus.
j.
The certain Judgement of those who reject the Gospel and the eternal
blessedness of the saved.
#2.
Directly Contradicts the Word of God. Now I’m not thinking about those who have honest interpretative
debates and difference. I’m talking
about this who call black, white; and good, evil, etc. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for
light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, ESV).
This is someone who has totally reversed, misdirected and/or denied God’s
standard as being right and good.
#3.
Distorts the Gospel. In Galatia the issue was that the Gospel was
insufficient. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who
called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different
gospel—” (Galatians 1:6, NIV). This is the religion of Cain. That self-made gospel – that is no
Gospel. The Gospel message is simply
that Jesus, being God, became a man, not ceasing to be God. He lived a perfect, sinless life. He died a completely effectual death on
Calvary. The former is given to the
believer as a free gift; God declaring him or her justified. The latter pays for all the sin of every
believer, for all time. Christ rose from the dead on the third day, being
vindicated by the Father and bestowing the Spirit’s power to live a life
pleasing to the Father. Christ has
ascended and is ruling at the right hand of God as the crowned Victor and
King. Concurrently He sent His Spirit to
indwell the lives of His people and His Church, sanctifying them forever in the
glorious anticipation of His return to gather His redeemed into habitation of a
renewed earth, perfect and holy, forever and ever.
And all this Good
News is received simply by faith in Christ alone apart from any works. Any misrepresentation
of that is an abomination of the Gospel.
#4.
Hired Hands, Not Shepherds[4]. Two consistent traits that
I see in regard to false ministers are: a. Greed; and b. No
accountability.
1 Peter 5:2–3 (ESV) reminds leader to “2 shepherd the flock of God that is
among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God
would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not
domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” When pastors, preachers, leaders are in ministry
to made money and flaunt it, there’s a red flag that this is a false teacher. ““For from the least
to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet
to priest, everyone deals falsely.” (Jeremiah 6:13, ESV)
Also, Paul wrote,
“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up
greed—God is our witness.” (1 Thessalonians 2:5, NIV) (cf: 2Peter
2:3,14). Also when John wrote his Third
Letter, he said to Gaius: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves
to be first, will not welcome us.” (3 John 9, NIV) The ESV translates this: "does not
acknowledge our authority." Many of
these ministries that fall under the condemnation of "false" produce
and promote media material, books and other products – NONE OF WHICH ENDURE
PEER REVIEW. One of my early steps
before recommending a book/ministry/media instruction is to look for peer
review. I do that even with ministries
that I normally recommend. None of us
live beyond healthy critique.
#5.
Immoral Character. Of an elder, Paul wrote, “Therefore an
overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,” (1 Timothy 3:2, ESV).
“Above reproach” or “blameless” heads the list. Unrepentant ministers of Christ are
immediately disqualified from ministry.
We have witnessed everything from adultery to financial corruption. Those truly guilty of such infractions are
ineligible for ministry. Some liberty
may be granted after a long period of restoration, but where trust is broken,
ministry ceases.
I believe that if any of the following
criteria are contravened, it’s time to hit ‘delete’ and assess that ministry as
“false”. So here’s the checklist for a true Christian
ministry:
c Harmonizes with the historic, orthodox Christian faith.
c Corresponds with clear Biblical standards of faith and practice.
c The true Gospel is proclaimed freely and plainly.
c There is the very real sense the leader decreasing and Christ
increasing.
c There is obvious accountability and peer examination.
c There is complimentary, character pursuing holiness.
There are also ministries that I would
categorize as harmful. I’ll write about
that in the next blog. I welcome your
comments.
[1] http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/P/prophesyings-false.html
[2] Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Isaiah
9:15; Jeremiah 12:16; Habakkuk 2:18–19; 1 Timothy 1:3; and 2 Peter 2:1–3, 18–22,
for example.
[3]
http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/false-prophet.html
[4] John 10:8
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