How much should ‘associations’ factor into my assessment of whether a teacher is false or not?

What do Billy Graham, Ravi Zacharais, Beth Moore and David Jeremiah have in common? They’ve associated with wolves who lead the sheep astray and they’re unrepentant about their associations.  Elizabeth Prata lays out why Christian leaders must not be careless when it comes to their associations.  As a Berean it’s up to you to check out the people evangelical celebs choose to associate with.  For example, when it comes to any sort of gathering, who’s name will appear on the marque with a person you admire? Prata advises

when we look at a leader or teacher’s associations, don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. We have to take a prayerful & measured look when we’re looking at secondary circumstances like who is hanging around our author or preacher or teacher.

Elizabeth Prata has a lot more to say on this subject over at The End Time blog:

A woman asked me recently whether she should read a certain book because the preface to the book was written by a false teacher, though the book itself was written by a solid teacher.

I’m glad that people are aware that associations can harm a reputation and can also be an indicator of future doctrinal problems in a leader or teacher. Associations do matter.

The pure and the polluted share nothing in common ultimately. And the people of God cannot form intimate relationships with those who don’t belong to God. All relationships like that are superficial. You cannot make a meaningful relationship with an enemy of the gospel. They live in a different world with a different and completely hostile and antagonistic leader. Separating from Unbelievers part 1

I posted an essay not long ago covering the event when Moore went on Joyce Meyer’s television interview show. The two women praised each other. Moore-Meyer is a bad association, one of many that Moore has shown (also associating with Jen Hatmaker, Victoria Osteen, Joel Osteen, etc) in spiritual endeavors.

Billy Graham used to associate with Popes in spiritual endeavors and praised them as brothers, that was another bad association among many that Graham has shown. His son Franklin hosted a Crusade where he’d invited a Catholic Bishop to give the opening prayer. Ravi Zacharias also went on Joyce Meyer’s interview show and praised her as a good Bible teacher. Dr David Jeremiah frequently appears on TBN channel flogging prosperity Gospel with other heretical Prosperity ministers during their annual beg-a-thon, also a bad association. So yes, when we see these teachers are associating with, praising, and not rebuking these false converts, it is a concern and often very telling as to the state of their heart and mind. We should not partner with people who abuse the Bible, twist God’s word, and distort the Gospel. As Michelle Lesley wrote this week, when she assesses a Bible teacher, one of the factors she looks at is that

She cannot currently and unrepentantly be partnering with or frequently appearing with false teachers in violation of 2 Corinthians 6:14 ff.

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8 Responses to How much should ‘associations’ factor into my assessment of whether a teacher is false or not?

  1. Doug Evans May 6, 2017 at 3:57 pm #

    I find these associations very unnerving and and I find that the number of “name” preachers that I listen to creeping closer and closer to 0. I may not find anything wrong with someone’s sermon, but due to his dealings with a known false teacher I no longer trust that person. Then again if something glaringly incorrect creeps into their sermon I loose trust with them too. For example, David Jeremiah was talking once about a design flaw in WWII fighters kept the pilots from reaching the ejection seat handle. WWII fighters didn’t have ejection seats, and that was the last time David Jeremiah was a part of my life.

    • Mark May 6, 2017 at 7:25 pm #

      How You doing Doug~? Glad to see You have chimed in on this~! Because we are not to have anything to do with a false teacher its as simple as 2 John 10-11……….”Anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” It is just that simple~!!! And Jesus said, “Do not be deceived,” Which many obviously think is a suggestion, but it is a commandment by God, not a suggestion~!!!

    • kim May 9, 2017 at 7:48 pm #

      Hey Doug

      This exact thing happened to me over the last yr. The only ‘name’ preacher I really listen to is Michael Youssef. It used to be many more and GOd has shown me–and they themselves with words and actions after God really opened my eyes and urged my spirit on the matter..i have even deleted a certain channel from my tv after it was bought by Hillsong..great loss. In fact sad to discover but outside of David Reagan who I like…there is no other decent preacher I watch on the”chrisitan networks” as I catch the ones I watch on local channels. What a big disappointment. But 99% of the time the ”Christian networks” are playing non stop false apostles.

  2. Mark May 6, 2017 at 7:29 pm #

    We are not to have anything to do with a false teacher its as simple as 2 John 10-11……….”Anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
    It is just that simple~!!! And Jesus said, “Do not be deceived,” Which many obviously think is a suggestion, but it is a commandment by God, not a suggestion~!!!

  3. Tim May 7, 2017 at 12:27 am #

    Yes , and the biggest warning is in thessalonians.. where God Himself is sending a string delusion to those that do not love the truth found only in the written word!! It’s bad enough being deceived by Satan but who will be able to stand or escape if it is God Himself who sends the false teachers bringing error to the church as a grave and harsh judgment damning the souls who seek after another means to hear from God

    • Nancy May 7, 2017 at 10:53 am #

      Wow Tim, your response really resonated with me. It actually gave me chills. I am currently traveling and at the hotel I am staying at is a New Age convention of people from all over the world. Apparently this is an annual gathering. They are all followers of this guy who wrote this book back in the 1970’s. I chatted with a couple of attendees who stressed to me that god is within and we are the creator. It’s all about the metaphysical. These lost people are searching for truth and have been hood winked by Satan. This must be a part of God’s strong delusion without a doubt because it is gaining momentum.

  4. lyn May 7, 2017 at 11:19 am #

    https://www.wayoflife.org/database/franklin_grahams_unscriptural_ecumenism.html

    From that link “Franklin Graham told the Indianapolis Star that his father’s ecumenical alliance with the Catholic Church and all other denominations “was one of the smartest things his father ever did” (“Keeping it simple, safe keeps Graham on high,” The Indianapolis Star, Thurs., June 3, 1999, p. H2).

    He said: “In the early years, up in Boston, the Catholic church got behind my father’s crusade. That was a first. It took back many Protestants. They didn’t know how to handle it. But it set the example. ‘If Billy Graham is willing to work with everybody, then maybe we should too’” (The Indianapolis Star, June 3, 1999).

  5. Sola Scriptura May 7, 2017 at 3:24 pm #

    “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
    ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    http://bible.com/1/1jn.1.5.kjv

    “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    http://bible.com/1/1co.10.21-22.

    “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
    ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    http://bible.com/1/2co.6.14-18.kjv

    Paul says in Galatians 1 that if even an angel preaches a false gospel, they are condemned. God will make the heaven/hell call but it looks bleak for these greedy, worldly lists. Therefore, we must come out from among them.
    As for the Catholic “church,” that is belial in the flesh.

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