I recently watched a minister online. He gave a scathing critique of those who dare call out purveyors of false doctrine. He said we should love our fellow Christians. Paradoxically, he criticized those who criticize others. He seemed intent on inoculating his followers — making them immune to charges of false doctrine against his friends and himself.
In one sense, the attack seemed pious. Don’t criticize. Be loving. Be sweet. But Jesus ran the money changers out of the temple. In Revelation 2:6, He expressed disdain for the deeds of the Nicolaitans. In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”
In Matthew 24, He repeatedly warned that deceptive men will come as the end of the age approaches — false prophets and even false christs. Some will perform wonders and use the Lord’s name to bolster their own credibility. He said in verse 24, “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Deception comes in many forms, and today we are being deluged. It is baptism by immersion. And it destroys lives. In John 14:6, Jesus called Himself “the truth.” In John 8:44, He called Satan the father of lies. Satan — the liar — kills, steals, and destroys. Jesus — the truth — heals and redeems. That’s a clear-cut choice.
In Matthew 16:6, Jesus warned His disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Verse 12 explains that their “leaven” was their “doctrine.” He called the groups by name, and their leaders were well known to the public.
Acts 20:29-31 records Paul warning leaders in the Church at Ephesus that “after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” It’s clear that the leaders are supposed to be on the lookout for false teachers and to call them out when necessary to protect the people.
Titus 1:11 says that there are people “whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.” That’s not a call to violence, but it is a call for church leaders to stand against false doctrines and the teachers who circulate them. Jude 4 warned that false teachers had already “crept in unnoticed … ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 2:16-17 warns the church about two dangerous teachers by name — Hymenaeus and Philetus. Verse 18 says exactly what these two were teaching: “that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” Some still teach this false doctrine today.
In 2 Timothy 4:14, Paul reports, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm.” In verse 15, he warns, “Beware of him.” Church leaders must be vigilant to protect those under their care — especially as the time of Christ’s return draws nearer.
