by Jacob Ninan
There are those who teach wrong doctrines because they are themselves deceived about them. Perhaps they were taught like that from childhood by the denomination they were in, or brainwashed by the Bible college they attended. They believe that what they are teaching is right, and they do not realise they are actually misleading people. People who listen to them are still hurt, but there is something more serious than this.
There are other teachers who know that what they are saying is wrong, but still they choose to preach it because that is what will bring them personal gain, such as money, name, power, etc. These are dishonest towards themselves, God and the people they are exploiting. God calls them false prophets, false teachers and wolves which have come to devour the sheep. When we listen to them, we must be able to discern their voice and decide whether it is the voice of a shepherd or a wolf in sheep's clothing (Jn.10:4,5). Our goal is to save ourselves from deception, and not necessarily to expose them. Their judgment is with God, but our safety is to be our consideration.
In what way can we discern the voice behind the teaching or the preaching? Remember, our task is to determine if it is a shepherd or a wolf. We should not be sidetracked from that by allowing ourselves to be overawed by their personality, charm, skill, knowledge, etc. What we must try to understand is whether they are actually seeking our welfare or their own gain through us.
Paul demonstrated the ministries of an apostle, prophet, teacher and shepherd all through his life, apart from several other spiritual gifts (1Cor.11:1). Looking at him, we all can learn a lot about how we ought to live and serve God, and in the process, also learn to identify the false ones who are among us or who come to us through messages, books, etc.
"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel" (1Cor.9:14-18). Look at his attitude of heart because of which he used every opportunity to preach the Gospel in every way he could, without looking at what there would be in it for him! Isn't this the same heart that Jesus had when He chose to come here, suffer and die so that we could be saved?
In preaching the Gospel, Paul's aim was not only to proclaim forgiveness of sins, but also to lead them in the direction of perfection in Christ Jesus, to the highest level of maturity they could each reach (Col.1:28;Gal.4:19). In order to do that, he did everything he could from his side, travelling around to different places in the midst of dangers, opposition and uncertainties, and teaching people night and day for as long as it took. Even while he was in prison for preaching the Gospel, he took the opportunity to write letters to different churches which later became a part of the Bible. He could testify at the end that he had not withheld anything that could have benefited his listeners or readers (Acts.20:26,27). Even though, as a servant of God he could have asked for support from the church, he chose to work whenever he could and support himself (Acts.20:33-35). His principle was that it was he who was serving them as a father to the children and it was for him to provide for them rather than the other way (2Cor.12:14). He knew when to deal with them gently as a mother as well as firmly as a father (1Th.2:7,11).
But Paul was also realistic, to foresee that not everyone would be like him. He could see through his own co-workers and recognise that most of them were basically seeking their own gain (Php.2:19-21). His last warning to the church in Ephesus was that they should watch out for people who would creep in and corrupt the church (Acts.20:29-31). Sad to say, he has been proved right beyond what he could have imagined.
To look at dishonest teaching, where people preach what they know to be false, for their own gain, let us just take two present day examples. Perhaps the most obvious example is the teaching on tithing, either enticing people to give with the hope of getting a hundredfold return, or threatening them with the wrath of God if they did not give. If anyone wants to understand, there is enough clarity that this was an old testament teaching that has not been carried over to the church, but since this is a matter of the teacher's own prosperity, many teachers will not let go of this. Matt.23:23, which they quote to show that Jesus taught tithing, was actually in the context of Jesus telling the Pharisees, who were under the old covenant still because Jesus had not died yet and the new covenant had not come, that they had missed the true aspects of spirituality by focussing on petty things like tithing!
The New Testament talks a lot about 'giving' and not at all about how much to give as a rule. What God delights in us is when He sees us giving cheerfully, and not under compulsion or because we think it is our duty to give (2Cor.9:7). We ought to want to give to the extent God has enabled us to give (1Cor.16:2). God understands the different situations we all go through, and He is happy to see rather a heart that longs to give but is practically unable to, than those who struggle to pay a tithe under compulsion (2Cor.8:12). The people in the church in Macedonia had it so much in their heart to help the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem that they gave sacrificially even though they were comparatively poor themselves (2Cor.8:2,3). Of course, God is also righteous, and He rewards abundantly those who give abundantly (2Cor.9:6).
Another sad example is that of people who give false hopes to others in need, in the name of God. If we have not heard from God directly, can we prophesy and tell people everything will be alright – sickness healed, relationships restored, debts cleared, etc.? Such false teachers are doing this for their own gain in various forms, and then absolving themselves by blaming the people for their supposed unconfessed sins or lack of faith. God gives a strict warning, "So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be consumed in its midst. And you will know that I am the LORD. Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, 'The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone, along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' declares the Lord GOD" (Ezek.13:14-16). By asking people to come to Jesus for solving their earthly problems without mentioning anything about their sins, repentance and Jesus as the Saviour, such preachers are deceiving others and making themselves responsible.
It is God's work to judge false teachers. Our task is to discern so that we can save ourselves from being misled or deceived. We are not to simply swallow everything that leaders say, even if they threaten us with dire consequences if we dared to 'touch the Lord's anointed' and warn us to submit to God's servants. If we want to understand the truth, there is nothing wrong in humbly asking questions. Of course, in some cases, it will also become necessary for us to leave a particular local church if things are intolerable there.