Thieves and Robbers: Knowing the False Teachers

Pastor Gabriel Hughes, who is the voice and creator of the video series When We Understand the Text, reminds us that false teaching is a deadly thing and that false teachers will be destroyed — and so will those who believe and follow false teaching.  Hughes examines the teaching of some of these people and (gasp!) names names.

Wolf pack

From left to right: T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Jesse Duplantis, Joyce Meyer. Oprah

Friday, I posted a new WWUTT video on John 10:10 which reads, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The “thief” is often depicted as Satan. The context refers not to Satan but agents of Satan. Jesus was specifically talking about false teachers, whom he describes as thieves and robbers (see John 10:1-10).

In doing so, Jesus was referencing Ezekiel 34 where the prophet said the following:

“Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.”

When Jesus said to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” this was also a reference to being the Good Shepherd (also John 10:11) who came to seek and to save the sheep who had not been tended by the shepherds. False teachers do not unify the people of God. They scatter them to be devoured by more false teachings, falling into a snare of the devil (1 Timothy 3:7, 2 Timothy 2:26).

Pastor means shepherd. All pastors are called to tend God’s sheep, and the sheep are instructed to be subject to the authority of the shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-5). We are warned though that many will pose as shepherds but inside are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). One of the job descriptions of a pastor is to teach sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it, warning the sheep against false teachers (Titus 1:9).

The Bible reserves its harshest criticisms for false teachers, and John 10:10 is one of those criticisms. False teachers do far worse than add a few words here or there or take a few verses out of context. What they preach is the teaching of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Irreverent babble and the mishandling of God’s word spreads like an infection that causes parts of the body to fall off and leads to ungodliness (2 Timothy 2:15-17).

The Scriptures say that unless they repent of their false teaching, they will be judged as liars, thieves, and murderers (Revelation 21:8). Jesus said not everyone who calls him “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who did the will of his Father (Matthew 7:21). The ignorant and unstable twist the Scriptures to their own destruction. Therefore we must be careful not to be carried away by the error of lawless people and thus lose our steadfastness in the faith (2 Peter 3:16-17).

Do you understand the seriousness? False teaching is a deadly thing. Those who teach falsely will be destroyed, as will those who believe and follow such false teaching. But the Lord knows who are his (2 Timothy 2:19). Those who are his sheep will hear his voice and follow the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-11).  Continue reading

Many articles on false teachers

Does the Bible really say we’re not to judge? By Marsha West

H/T Glenn Chatfield

 

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2 Responses to Thieves and Robbers: Knowing the False Teachers

  1. Manny1962 May 10, 2016 at 10:40 pm #

    Amen Pastor Hughes, not only is false teaching a horror that has spread like wildfire, but also the “politization” of Christianity, under the guise of being involved in turning this culture around. Usually with NAR undertones, we are in perilous days indeed, we all must get back to scripture, reading the bible today is paramount to survive the attacks being waged on the bride by the wolves in Churchianity! If not for The Lord that keeps us, we would have fallen a long time ago. Jesus admonished us to “watch and pray.” How many today are watching and praying.

  2. Faith May 10, 2016 at 10:41 pm #

    Excellent post!

    Perfect analysis of the situation.
    The wolf hall of fame is really long of course, that was just a sampling.

    If they deny the gospel of God found in the Bible, they are a false teacher.
    It is that simple. That is the measuring rod, the dividing line. That is the standard God holds everyone to. If they preach a false gospel, they are not reaching anyone with the gospel, but only with a false gospel. We need to warn about this to protect the sheep. But all too often, this is the scenario:

    Scene 1: Sheep tranquilly munching on some grass in the sheepfold.
    Scene 2: The shepherd comes and feeds the sheep the real food, and then goes to his household.
    Scene 3: A pack of wolves see the sheep, and thinking they are alone, decide to devour them. Wolf A devises a plan to put on sheepskins and bring some false food as bait. Wolf B chuckles with delight, an evil gleam in his eye, baring his teeth.
    Scene 4: Just at the time the wolves enter in their disguises, the sheepdogs wake from their slumber and run in to warn and protect the sheep.
    Scene 5: Some sheep heed the warnings and run, but others attack the sheepdogs instead and they leave them to their fate since the wolves are coming. Since they are the only sheep left in the fold, the wolves devour them lustily.

    Sad, but true. I see it all the time. And yes, it will get worse.
    The antichrist is the prime example:
    “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me…” John 14; 30
    But they will flock to him in droves.

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