The Dangers of False Teaching

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

I have often wondered why some of the Christian brethren stay under false teaching. I am speaking about the brother/sister who really loves the Lord Jesus Christ, but goes to a church notorious for its bad doctrine. Why do they do such things, if they are under the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ?. I remember quickly, I was under the same such thing. I sat under a false prophet in Baltimore, Md and listened heavily to false teachers like T.D Jakes and Creflo Dollar. In my circumstances, God was being gracious to me, stressing the importance of fleeing from such false teaching. There was a danger that did effect me and I think still has its remnants on my thinking at time (This is why false teachers must be marked because they don’t realize the danger they cause people!)

Speaking with Bro. Lawrence D this week, my brother schooled me to why we as Christians must be careful in questioning the validity of a person’s salvation by Jesus Christ. Just because they go to Jamal Bryant’s church, or Fred Price dome of horror, doesn’t mean their not a Christian. If they are Christians, they need to be directed to the exit door of the facility for good. I shared with Bro. Lawrence some of my struggles Shannon and I have had coming out of compromising, erring and false doctrinal churches. It places views and thoughts on you about God, which cause much confusion. When you get around true brethren, you tend go too far right, in fear of returning back to the left. Or you thoughts about God change, sometimes becoming very cold and angry thinking the Lord is slashing down His enemies. For example, I went from being a hard core Charismatic prophesying maniac, to a repenting 5 point Calvinist. Any body who mentioned TD Jakes, Joyce Meyer, or Creflo Dollar, I would shoot them down quickly. I was angry these men had tricked me. Do you understand what I am saying? Point blank, false teaching is very dangerous to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Causing Division False teaching causes division and offences. These words have the following Greek transliteration and meaning from Romans 16:

Division dichostsis dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah - disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension:--division, sedition.

Offences skandalon skan'-dal-on - a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin):--occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock. This word is the root word of skandalizo skan-dal-id'-zo which means: to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):--(make to) offend.

See from those meanings alone, you can see the bad fruit produced. You can be very prideful or have a sense of religious piety about you that is disturbing, causing much division. Some people will not want to be around you for the wrong reasons. Depending on the type of teaching, you may label it persecution when someone opposes you. That’s why are true Christian under good biblical teaching will always bring unity among the brethren. You can tell who is under a true man of God, because they will not seek to cause more division or offences. They will understand your hurt and misunderstandings, not causing you to hate men like Benny Hinn, but instead extend to you the arm of grace and truth. Of course they’ll rebuke for your error, but love you just the same. They will speak to you and always encourage you in BIBLICAL TRUTH. God’s man points the confused to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at how Paul combated division, proving he was a real Apostle of the Jesus Christ.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:3-23)

Paul did not lead his flock into more division, No, he lead them to unity in Christ Jesus, which follows this:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)

I talk with my good friends on the West Coast, Carey and Kyra Barr, and listen to their testimonies of coming out of false teaching. When I hear what they’ve been through, I rejoice the Lord Jesus Christ brought them to the truth. I think about those, who are still in a still trapped and who are still in the dangers of false teaching. My heart cries out to the Lord to free them, even close friends that I have.

False teaching produces bad fruit, not good fruit:
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. (Jeremiah 23:14)

Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. (Zephaniah 3:4)

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)

I know a woman in my bible study who really loves Jesus Christ. I found out she attended Jamal Harrison–Bryant’s church in Baltimore, Md. I was amazed, because she truly loves the brethren. She gives her life up for the spreading of the Gospel. But the false teaching she’s under, bears an ugly head upon her. She has admitted to struggling keeping her mouth shut at times, and following after Christ. She occasionally makes prideful statements, which resemble those of her pastor, in our bible study at work. She confessed how no devil is going to get in her way as she put up her fists and showed me what she would do to the devil. Really? Isn’t that what My Bryant teaches? He tells his congregation financial breakthroughs are coming and to stomp all devils out of their way. The false teachings seed has affected my sister. The scriptures say it best:

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:7-9)

When times get rough in this nation, what will my sister do? Will the devil be stomped out? The Lord Jesus will be with her yes, the burn of false teaching is painful. May the grace of God extend unto my sister.

My plea to those still trapped in false teaching!!!
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)

If you’re under false teaching or an erring church, I am pleading with you to leave. Stay for away from these teachers as possible. But don’t become bitter with them (I’ll admit it is hard not to become angry when you see Rick Warren and Creflo Dollar with grins and smirks on their faces). Love them and those who are following their teaching. If you believe the Holy Ghost is telling you to stay, search the scriptures to see if that is true. I seriously doubt our Lord desires His children to be under false teaching. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, my beloved!

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20)

And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:13-16)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)