Dwight Fletcher | What we need to understand

In this life, Christians are encouraged to take a stand against wickedness, including false biblical teachings. Those who don’t know better are relying on us to learn the Word of God in the Bible so that we can help them know the truth. If we are to stand, we must understand three important things related to false teachers: their error, their motive, and the truth of the Word.

THEIR ERROR

In the Bible, Paul wanted false teachers to stop teaching doctrine that contradicted God’s revealed truth. Apparently, the false teachers were using the Word of God as their base but were twisting and perverting the Word. Paul said, “… command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies…” 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NIV). In 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV), Paul indicates that such legends are, in fact, “doctrines of demons”, manufactured by seducing spirits. Author and pastor John MacArthur says: “These false teachers in Ephesus were much like the Athenians as described in Acts 17:21: ‘All the Athenians and strangers who were there (on Mars Hill) spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or hear some new thing.’ Apparently, these men in Ephesus were introducing new things to tantalise the people, passing off demonically contrived falsehoods as divine truth.”

These new ‘ideas’ and ways of thinking are designed to tell us what we like to hear instead of what’s truly helpful. Second Timothy 4:3-5 (NIV) clues us into this: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations … .”

Even if something sounds good or supports our ambitions, we must still be discerning and critical thinkers. We must STAND on the truth of God’s Word. What is the result of the error? “Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work — which is by faith,” says 1 Timothy 1:4 (NIV).

We work against God when we allow these false teachings to remain. The Bible is clear: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions,” 1 Timothy 6:3-4 (NIV).

Controversies rooted in false doctrine are dangerous because:

1. They are the foundation of endless altercations and disputes and sometimes promote disbelief or rationalising of God’s Word.

2. They do nothing to promote holy living.

3. They settle no permanent principle of truth.

4. They determine nothing that is really concerned with the salvation of people.

False teachers use the Word of God, but their teaching does not promote unity, and it does not lead people to live godly lives. MacArthur went as far as to say that it is actually an attack of the gospel.

1 Timothy 1:4 (KJV) says these false teachers “minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith”. They provide speculations instead of truth. They continually stir up useless questions, and that creates confusion. Through their questions, these false teachers strike a blow at the gospel of saving faith. Therefore, it is likely they were propagating a system of works righteousness, or legalism. The controversies of false teachers lead to strife and debate, and the grace, the teaching of God leads to love, both to God and man, through faith in Christ. Faith in Jesus purifies the heart.

Next week, we will discuss the real motive of false teachers and understand more clearly why we must take a stand against it.