Point: Contrary to the spirit of our age, the New Testament has a lot to say about false teaching and false teachers. Believers are to be on the alert for them, to resist false doctrines , refute them, warn others about it and not to fellowship with false teachers. Sometimes Christians today lack discernment and often will just let false teachers go because they use Christian vocabulary with different meanings; that is, false teachers have a pass among some Christians because their false teachings are “sprinkled” with a little bit of Christianese even though the true meaning of their contents are not Christian at all. It might be appropriate to get the idea across that Christians must be aware of false teachers (be it in the form of a cult leader, compromiser, Liberal or secularists) with the following illustration.
Picture: I saw a Canadian news article that really disturbed me. Its titled “Doctor apologizes for letting a registered sex offender into a retreat for sex assault survivors.” This is an excerpt from the article:
The doctor running Project Trauma Support now says she regrets her decision to allow a registered sex offender to peer mentor a group of sexual assault survivors with post traumatic stress disorder under her care.
Seven female first responders and Canadian Forces veterans shared their story publicly with CBC News yesterday. They said their trust was violated by Dr. Manuela Joannou because she failed to tell them their peer mentor recently had been convicted in two separate cases of sexual assault before attending the six-day trauma retreat in July 2018.
CBC News obtained an image of a statement posted by Joannou to Facebook on Wednesday apologizing to participants in her program.
“I am deeply saddened by the compounded hurt and pain that having a registered sex offender as a mentor on our program in 2018 has caused for so many people,” Joannou wrote in the Facebook post.
I thought about how sad that this Doctor would put others at risk with allowing a registered sex offender to have access to potential victims. Of course the participants in the program felt betrayed, putting them at risk.
Likewise when we allow platforms for false teachers that undermine the Gospel and other essential doctrines of Christianity.
Also if we don’t warn others in the long run whether here on on earth or in eternity they would feel betrayed we didn’t warn them.
POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR EMPLOYING THIS ILLUSTRATION DURING APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM
OPPONENT: It is not nice of you to speak out against that preacher/teacher/speaker as being unbiblical. It is unloving.
CHRISTIAN: You think it is unloving?
OPPONENT: Yes. You say someone is wrong.
CHRISTIAN: Can I show you from the Bible that we are to be discerning concerning false teachers of religion?
OPPONENT: Well…
CHRISTIAN: Let me give you an analogy to help illustrate why I think I as a Christian must warn of a false teacher and also I don’t let him/her have a platform from me to influence those I love.
<Give illustration >
CHRISTIAN: Do you think think the doctor did what was right?
OPPONENT: No!
CHRISTIAN: What should she have done?
OPPONENT: Not allow the sex offender to attend that six days retreat.
CHRISTIAN: Why?
OPPONENT: Because he is dangerous.
CHRISTIAN: Likewise false teachers! It can damn people to hell. I am obligated to speak out.
[…] GO TO PART 63 […]
Excellent illustration! There is so much false teaching and acceptance these days and we need wisdom and discernment. It is infuriating to me how false teachers and teaching is numbing and desensitizing Christians. This foolish doctor is no better or worse than when we allow known sex offenders in ministry (especially youth). Thanks for this timely illustration. Blessings to you, Nancy and kiddos!
Indeed you are right this doctor is no wiser than the people who allow a sex offender be in youth ministry. False teachers and false prophets are all around us! How did the night go yesterday, still on the boat?
The night was awesome. No we are almost home. Sad it’s over, glad it happened will write my reflections tomorrow. I learned A LOT! So thankful for your prayers and care for Nathan and I!
Very well said. We must speak out against false teaching and teachers. We also need to place it in context with the truth of Jesus.
Blessings.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
In these times we need to accept the fact that when we speak truth we will be accused of being “not nice” – and speak the truth anyway. That analogy might help explain why, but if not, we will just have to agree to disagree.
Sister this is so true: “ we speak truth we will be accused of being “not nice” – and speak the truth anyway.”. I talked to a missionary overseas and he told me he realized the last decade young American has gotten even more sensitive and harder to share the Gospel with the response of being I’m offended. We gotta share the Gospel anyways! And share it we must as it is the power to save! I know you like and are good with spiritual analogies and you are right still even if they disagree we still tell the truth. How’s teaching the young ones?
We took a break for a while. They were starting to treat it like a chore, and then school started up again. But we still have those “teachable moments” where the truths are “caught rather than taught,” and I’m OK with that. God knows how to work with moods and seasons and short attention spans. 😉
Excellent analogy, brother! The church pendulum has swung waaaaaay too far to accommodating false teachers with their soul-damning doctrines in the name of Christian “love” and “unity.”
I won’t name names, but I find it ironic that a blogger who heartily Amened this post in his comments above has castigated me in the past for pointing out the RCC’s false gospel and those who accommodate it. I see that kind of incongruity all the time.
“ The church pendulum has swung waaaaaay too far to accommodating false teachers with their soul-damning doctrines in the name of Christian “love” and “unity.””
We definitely see that.
There is many at this time who think Rome’s Gospel is the same as the Gospel. I think you are doing an important work with informing people the truth.
How is your shift so far on the first day at work for this week?
Thanks! Yes, many have been deceived into believing Rome teaches the genuine Gospel or something “close enough.”
RE: Shift
It’s actually an unusually calm Friday and I’m grateful. Just what the doctor ordered.
How is your Friday going?
Hi Pastor Jim.
I appreciate this post. We do need to be very cautious and even watching for this type of problem. Most are aware of what happened to Ravi Zacharias. Yesterday, I watched a video of one of RZIM’s leaders who was fooled by Ravi. It is a very enlightening video. I never really followed Ravi’s ministry much and I don’t think I’ll put up a post about his problems. In 2016, I put up a post about Ravi speaking at the Mormon Tabernacle. At that time I found it strange that the Mormons would allow a well-known Christian to speak at their temple. I’ve listened to the video several times and there is nothing in it that would convict a Mormon of their false doctrines. “Of course, there isn’t,” I always thought or they would never have allowed him to ever speak there.
I know why Walter Martin was never invited to a temple. He would have shared the difference between Christianity’s Jesus and the Mormon Jesus. It is an immense difference. They are NOT the same Jesus.
I will share the video here even though I don’t know much about Dr. Sean McDowell the son of Josh McDowell. Josh’s “Evidence that demands a Verdict” had a good influence on me when I was a teenager. I have always respected Josh. A couple of years back, though, I noticed that he spoke as some kind of conference that included several speakers that I thought were theologically suspect. I never really looked any deeper into it, but as far as I know Josh has stayed the course to true Christian orthodoxy. If any of your readers know differently, I would appreciate them letting me know about it.
Here is the video and may God continue to bless you ministry:
Thank you for sharing the video. I don’t agree with Sean with apologetics methodology but many areas he’s solid. Do you have a link to your Ravi post from 2016, do you want to share a link to it so others can find it and it is accessible here in the comment if others might benefit from the warning? Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your opinion on Sean McDowell with me, Pastor Jim and I appreciate that you wanted me to share my blog post with you.
Here is the post about Ravi in the Mormon Temple that I posted in June of 2016:
I wish you and your readers a blessed day!
This shows how predators are very deceptive
Indeed it does, SweetStuff.
Accurately precise and timely, Jim! Think of how many cults and new age “spiritual” leaders have swayed even innocent Christians. Have you heard of the “appointed son of GOD?” Blessings to you and your family!
I have not heard of the appointed son of God, I imagine this is a new cult and false religious movement that is unbiblical?
👍💯%
Good point about false teaching. They can do harm and need to be called out.
Indeed they need to be called out to protect others, Amen Frank! How are you doing?
Truth is very seldom loved.
That is quite true. Hope you have a blessed weekend, and have some communication with family and/or your siblings! Stay safe Maw Maw
I will. Sister lives across street. We call it ‘Goofing’. lol
Fantastic analogy pastor Jim, thank you.
In my experience pointing out false teachers or false teaching these days is not well received by “Christians ?” and they are always ready to throw the first stone. But we must contend for our faith no matter what , with “believers” and unbelievers alike.
Blessings to the new week.
Sadly you are right in your comment, many even Christians don’t like when false teachers are identified! Yet is as you said, we must speak truth even as unpopular as it is these days. How was your Sunday/Lord’s Day?
Was a great Lord’s Day. Church, worship, fellowship and answered prayer. The Lord is so good.
How are things over your side ?
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