Defending Faith Against False Teaching
This series will ultimately lead to a study on suffering, trials and tribulation. Before we can effectively study what the Bible teaches about this part of life, we must first lay a solid foundation. Why do Christian – even great men and women of faith – endure hardship? If suffering is the result of sin and prosperity is a trophy of righteousness, then why do so many wicked men prosper and have good health? The prophet Jeremiah was bothered by this when he wrote the following passage:
Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
If someone is wealthy, does this mean they are righteous?
In Psalm 73, the psalmist said, “I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked”. Very seldom do we see these issues addressed in the church. Because hardship makes us feel uncomfortable, churches sidestep the issue completely. Before we can understand this topic, I feel it is necessary to clarify doctrines growing in popularity that are not based on scripture, but on the desire of the human nature to have utopia on earth. The church today is being blinded to eternity and focusing solely on the temporal. The church is blind to the joy of suffering with a purpose greater than the pain. Churches are making a shift because they are not willing to look beyond their immediate circumstances and therefore, they turn away from God’s purposes and seek their own. The Bible teaches us that in the last days, people will not endure sound doctrine, but will instead pile in to teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. In other words, they don’t want a gospel that asks them to deny self and conform to Christ, they want a gospel that conforms to their lives and desires.
What happens when churches lose their eternal focus?
Can false teaching overcome the truth?
What happens when truth is compared along side of error claiming to be truth?
How do we know the difference?
What happens when truth is suppressed?
There are many competing doctrines and religions claiming to be truth, but there is only one Spirit. The Spirit of God has no competing rival. His Spirit testifies with our spirit to reveal truth. When someone hears the truth, they cannot be deceived without rejecting the truth because His Spirit reveals it. Satan can only deceive us by appealing to our selfish sin nature. Out of a desire for the lie we reject the truth. When someone has rejected God by rejecting His truth, He will send a strong delusion so that they will believe a lie. God will fulfill our desires. If we choose God and draw near to Him, He has promised to reveal Himself and draw near to us. If we chose the lie over truth, God will give us over to our desire for the lie. It is for this reason that so many false teachers have filled the airways preaching self-fulfillment and turning God into a means to our ends. In this series I will address these issues by comparing doctrine to scripture.
Why are people deceived?
There are many who reject the idea of using scripture to reveal the errors of ‘God’s anointed’. However, the scripture is the authority over any who claim to be spokesmen for God. If a preacher and the scriptures disagree, one or the other is false. The Bible states that God’s word is equal to His name. The scripture says that not one jot or tittle will pass away and His word will remain forever. God’s word does not change and God does not change. If someone stands in opposition to the Bible, either God is a liar or the prophet is – or as Proverbs 30 states:
5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
If someone claims that God has said something other than what God has said in scripture, how does the Bible describe that person?
Is it wrong to use scripture when it puts a teacher in a bad light?
Should the focus be on false teaching, or on truth?
Should we merely point out the error, or use the error as a platform to present the truth?
One thing we must keep in mind is that it is not the heresy (or false teaching) that is the focus, nor is it the teacher. The focus is on truth. If the truth of God's word is proclaimed, it will expose the lie that challenges it. If the teaching does not match the truth, the teaching is a lie. If the teaching is a lie, the only hope for keeping the lie alive is for those who love the lie to suppress the truth. False teachers protect the lie from being exposed by avoiding scriptures, mocking those who search the scriptures and discrediting those who lift up the truth. Even though I will quote false teaching in order to expose it, the focus is to uphold and teach the truth. If false teaching is not exposed in light of scripture, those who are misled will never have the option to choose the truth. My goal is not to force people to turn from the lie, but give people the opportunity to choose God and hold to the truth He has revealed in His word.
Why should we show the truth and the lie to the church?
Creating shame and embarrassment is the easiest way to silence would-be critics and prevent future ones. When someone knows that their position won’t stand up against truth, their only hope is to make a mockery of the truth or discredit those who hold to the truth. This is true in any area of life. Scientists who question evolution with evidence are mocked. The evidence is seldom addressed. Instead, it is easier to make a mockery of those who question their beliefs and then label the evidence as unreliable because those presenting it are not credible. What happens to a ‘whistle blower’ who exposes fraud or abuse? Often times their careers are destroyed and reputations ruined by those in power. They hide the evidence my discrediting the bearer of the truth. There does not need to be merit to the rumors that destroy a reputation. One person’s words can destroy the reputation of the innocent without evidence to support the slander. This is no different with teachers who masquerade as evangelicals and promote anti-biblical doctrines. As we will see, many so-called evangelicals are teaching New Age, Buddhism, Tritheism, Mormonism and other pagan doctrines while using Christian jargon. To keep their followers from using reason, they discredit the those who expose the truth and discourage others from thinking critically or looking at the scriptures for themselves. Before I give examples, let’s see what the Bible teaches about truth.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Why do false teachers work so hard to discredit their critics?
Does Christian jargon make a doctrine biblical?
Why does the Bible command us to test the spirits?
How does testing the spirits apply to doctrine of false teachers?
How do we test the spirit to see if the teacher is false? Acts 17 answers this question:
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
How did the Bereans test Paul and Silas’ doctrine?
Why didn’t Paul condemn these people for not accepting what he said immediately?
Why do those claiming to be prophets today say, ‘touch not God’s anointed’ when they are compared to scripture?
Notice, those who compared the doctrine of Paul to the known scripture were called noble. Paul was truly God’s anointed apostle, yet believers were honored for comparing what he taught to scripture. In spite of this clear principle, countless times I have heard people say, ‘touch not God’s anointed’. We are not to question, criticize or oppose modern day ‘prophets’ and those claiming to be God’s apostles. This is pollution of 1 Chronicles 16:21-22. The context of this passage is that man does not have the right to destroy those whom God has appointed. When a prophet would proclaim the word of God, wicked kings would often seek to destroy them in order to suppress the word, which convicted their sin. God is proclaiming His divine protection and rebuking the kings that sought to destroy those God sent to expose their evil deeds. This does not mean that you cannot question those who call themselves prophets who have teaching that does not line up with the already revealed word of God. The people were commanded to test Old Testament prophets as well. False prophets have always been around. That is why the Bible commands us to know the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How are we to be diligent?
How do we discern the truth?
We are diligent by knowing how to rightly divide the word of truth. We study the word so that we know how to discern truth. Those who seek the word of God will be a worker without shame. Not only are we told to know how do discern truth, but we are commanded to stand up for the truth. Look at Jude:
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
What does it mean ‘to contend earnestly for the faith’?
Can we obey God and contend and passively allow false teaching to go unchallenged?
Critics argue that we should all just get along. This may be the world’s view of truth, but it is not God’s. The Bible warns that ungodly men will pervert the truth and we are commanded to search the scriptures, know the truth, and defend it. 1 Peter 3 tells us to be ready to give a defense. We are not passive bystanders, but we are warriors called into action to defend the truth in love. Silently watching people be led down the path of deceit is not love. Revealing the lie by shining the light of truth isn’t hate. Proverbs 27:5 says, “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed”. We have seen how the Bible commands us to know the truth, test the spirit of the prophets by the word and contend for the faith, now let’s see how false teachers silence critics.
"There are some spend a lifetime - we call them apologist - they spend their whole lives apologizing for the scriptures". – Paul Crouch
Interesting quote. Let’s take a moment to look at the word ‘apologists’ or ‘apologetics’. This word comes from the Greek word, ‘apologia’. This is found in 1 Peter 3:15 where we are told to be ready to give an answer. ‘Apologia’ literally means to speak in defense with a well reasoned argument. What Paul Crouch calls ‘apologizing for the scriptures’, the Bible calls, defending the faith. Why are apologists mocked by Crouch? As we will see later, it is because his doctrine does not align with scripture. Instead of defending his doctrine, he is mocking those who question it.
This same sentiment is echoed by John Avanzini
I'm not impressed with the apologists. I might as well get it out - I used to be one, God forgive me and I promise never to do it again.
If the word apologists comes directly from the Bible’s command to be ready to defend our faith, and teachers mock this verse, what does it tell you about the teacher?
If 1 Peter 3:15 commands us to be apologists and a teacher encourages Christians to ask for forgiveness for obeying, what does this tell us about their view of scripture?
Are they encouraging or discouraging their followers to look to scripture?
How can anyone ask God to forgive them for defending their faith with reason and searching the scriptures as commanded by God? There are many more examples, but my only intention is to show how teachers discredit those who hold the Bible as absolute truth dissuade others from becoming reasoning the scriptures. I also want to show that in the foundational issues of scripture, there is a marked difference between the fastest growing sect of the church and historic Christianity.
There are many sincere Christians in the so-called ‘Word-Faith’ movement. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that the Word Faith movement is based on cult doctrines, as you will clearly see. I realize that everyone who follows the movement does not intentionally subscribe to cultic teaching. However, because of lack of biblical knowledge, pressure from friends, charismatic leaders and many other factors, they unknowingly accept teaching that directly challenges scripture. The leaders of this movement do subscribe knowingly to these doctrines. If the leaders are in error, then the movement is in error regardless of how well intentioned the followers may be. In this section, I will show that these teachers do not have the same heaven, hell, God, or Christ that true Christianity holds to based on scripture.
Let’s start with the Word Faith view of heaven based on the teachings of Kenneth Copeland. Copeland describes heaven this way:
"Heaven has a north, south, east and west. Therefore, heaven must be a planet".
"This [the earth] is all a copy of home. It's a copy of the mother planet. Where God lives, he made a copy and put us on it".
What passages in the Bible teaches that the earth is a copy of God’s planet?
Is this teaching about heaven or earth a biblical doctrine?
Do any world religions teach this doctrine?
This is a derivative of Mormonism. Mormonism teaches that as man is, God once was; and as God is, man can become. The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormons) teach that highest achievement of man is to one day have his own planet and populate it just as God has this planet. Copeland teaches that God created the earth by speaking words filled with the force of faith and made it a copy of the planet He lives on and is replicating Himself in the earth. But how does the Bible describe heaven, as a planet? Look at Revelation 4
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
‘Immediately I was in the Spirit’ gives a strong clue. In the 1960’s a Russian cosmonaut entered space and reported that he has been to the heavens and did not see any God. For Christians who understand, this is not surprising in the least. John was caught up in the spirit and then he beheld heaven. He did not land on a planet as Copeland believes heaven to be. Also look at Matthew 6
19 " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Is heaven physical or spiritual?
Why don’t the treasures we store in heaven corrupt?
Because it is not our physical world we cling to, nor do we look for a physical world to come. Our treasures are sown in the spirit and reaped in the spirit (Galatians 6).
Here is Kenneth Copeland’s description of God. As we review this teaching, keep in mind the words of Joseph Smith, “As man is, God once was. As God is, man shall become”.
Copeland
The Bible says [God] measured the heavens with a 9-inch span. Now the span is the distance of the hand between the tip of the little finger and the thumb. My hand is 8 and ¾ inches. That means God’s hand is ¼ of an inch longer than mine. He stands somewhere between 6 feet to 6 foot 2 and weighs a couple hundred pounds. When God spoke, it wasn’t some monster – but out of a heart of a being that is uncanny like you and I.
Does this description of God sound more like Mormonism or Christianity?
Does the Bible say that God measured heaven with a 9-inch span?
It is interesting that Copeland took a passage which was intended to show how small man is and twisted it to show how small God is. Kenneth Copeland’s passage comes from Isaiah 40. Let’s examine this passage in context and see if the Bible agrees with Kenneth’s interpretation of Isaiah 40:
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance?
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.
18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
Was this passage intended to show how small God is or how small man is?
Does the Word-Faith doctrine reverse the intended meaning of this passage?
If you read the book of Isaiah, God’s people were turning away, becoming proud and arrogant and God is showing the foolishness of their pride. God is not saying the heavens were measured with a 9 inch span. God is asking a redundant question: Who can hold the waters in the hollow of their hand; who can measure the heavens with a span (no mention of 9 inches); who weighs the mountains on scales; who can teach God or counsel Him; who can do anything God does or even question what God does? The answer obviously is no one. It is ironic that God ended His questions by asking what likeness will you compare to God? The correct answer is that nothing is comparable to God. The irony is that Word Faith teachers remove the majesty and likens God to a man.
Kenneth Copeland is not alone. Jerry Seville echoes the same message when he also describes God as measuring the heavens with a 9-inch span. Paul and Jan Crouch along with Benny Hinn describe God as being a man. They declared that he whistles, therefore God must have lips. They claim that the Bible says He has hands, legs, muscles and a body. The problem with these teachings is a failure to understand the Bible’s use of metaphors. Throughout the Bible, God uses metaphors to reveal spiritual truths. Psalm 91 says, “He shall cover you with his feathers and under His wings you shall trust”. Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and cried, “how long I have desired to gather you as a hen gathers her brood, but you would not come”. The metaphor is intended to describe God’s protection – not to describe God. What about Revelation 4:3 where John grapples with the words to describe God on His throne; “He who sat [on the throne] was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance”, or when the Bible calls God our Rock? Is God a stone or a gem? Of course not.
Are metaphores intended to describe God or reveal a characteristic of God?
In the last section, we looked at how false teachers use scriptures in error to try to conform God to their image. This section will begin by looking at how the Bible describes God.
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