Being involved with social media, coming out of bastardized and institutionalized church, and being involved with several friendships, I have run into my fair share of false teachers. Yes, a small handful didn't know any better and have been able to see error and correct themselves. But for every one or two, there seems to be about one hundred more that continue on with "business" as usual.
One thing I have begun to notice is that the world is starting to take notice of the false teachers and the shenanigry they bring. And when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (or as his momma called him Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr) spoke out, I knew I had to finally write about it. I had been sitting and stewing on this blog for a long time. I felt a prompting to write, but I just wasn't sure. Then this article came out. I mean, here is a man who has forsaken the Father in Heaven for another god, but can still see the blatant error in false teaching. And while I don't completely agree with all he said (he misquoted scripture in that article), the things he did say has merit. Yet, there are thousands (and I was one of them) of people who week after week, sit under a false teacher's tutelage and can't discern if it is raining or someone is spiting on them from above. Something is wrong. So, I prayed.
"Why Father? Why are so many people accepting false teachers in their lives?? What is it??"From that question, He lead me to think on all of my experiences with false teachers. And the Father showed me two common themes.
- People are drawn to them because of their carnality and fleshly desires. Those teachers provide their "need" or false hope of attaining that "need".
- People say they know My Words, but ignore Me when I give My warnings to leave them alone. They feel they are the ones that can change them.
1 Kings 22:1-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
Ahab and the False Prophets
1 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.”
Can you spot the need and how King Ahab searched for it outside of Yahweh? His need is found in verse 3 - greed, power, and control. Carnal needs that he wanted to fill. Because of those things, he wanted to overtake Syria. In doing so, he found people who would placate his need. Now, here is something interesting to note. This king surrounded himself with false prophets. These false prophets were not "new" to him. They were around him, they studied him, they new his likes and dislikes, they knew his inner desires, and knew what to say and do to fulfill his need. This time was no different. They saw his need, and took advantage of it for their own gain and pleasure. For what could be more pleasurable than saying that you "work for the king" and all the pardons/benefits/prestige and money that come with it?
The same goes for those in false teaching positions. They will study a people, discover their "need", and offer them what they want. What benefit comes to them? For some it would be money, some prestige and the need to feel important, some adoration, some control, some power, some the need to feel wanted, some a false notion of success and finally some all of these. None of which is something that the Father calls His teachers to. They are suppose to be the conduits of Christ, not wanting the benefits and the "Bride" for himself. And this is the seduction that is a false teacher - a seller of dreams, hopes, and aspirations, not the gospel of Christ that often tells you to deny yourself and that you will face persecution and death. Because, if that true message is preached to the carnally-minded masses (who are their targets) they get none of the benefits.
Now, let's look at this contrasted situation between Christ and satan.
Matthew 4:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Temptation of Jesus1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
If we look carefully at this encounter we should notice something. The enemy satan knew Christ. He studied Him and have known Him since he (satan) was created. Satan was given authority over this world - yet, there was NOTHING that he could give Christ. Christ had no earthly need, no reason to have His ears tickled, no personal agenda to fulfill, therefore no reason for someone to use twisted scripture and thoughts to lead Him into carnality.and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
False teachers prey on your "needs". They take time to study their audience. You may not even realize it, but they do. Once your need is discovered, they also find a way to fulfill that need - which is why their doctrine can ebb and flow with the changing of the tide keeping the ability to keep your ears tickled. Which leads me to my next point, point number two.
False teachers can not be saved from themselves through human efforts. There are many people who feel it is there "job" to help false teachers see the truth. But those were not, nor ever were our instructions from our Father. We were never meant to "rehab" them and there are several instructions and warnings for us not to do so:
1 Timothy 6:3-5, 11 ESV
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain....11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.
Romans 16:17-18 ESV
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Ephesians 5:6-13 ESV
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ...
Colossians 2:8 ESV
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Matthew 7:15 ESV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
2 John 1:10-11 ESV
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2 Peter 2 English Standard Version (ESV)
False Prophets and Teachers
2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.
Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
Throughout all of those verses, no where does it say that we bear with them in trying to get them to see truth or come to Christ. We are not to rehab them. That is not our work. The bible does instruct us to:
- Test them by their spirit and not their appearances or show they put on - 1 John 4:1 and John 7:24
- Not receive them but expose them and avoid them - 2 John 1:10-11, Ephesians 5:11, and Romans 16:17, Matthew 15:13-20
- Pray for our enemies and those who despitefully use us - Matthew 5:43-45
That's it. Nothing more to do. We don't have to "tarry with them a little longer", "help them see the light", "stay because if I leave then everything else will be ruined". It is not our call to in any way entertain them lest you partake in their evil and be lead astray with them.
But why? Why can't we stay and help those who are perceived to know Christ and seem to be brothers and sisters through His blood? The bible again gives us insight and instruction if we are willing to listen:
- they will secretly bring in destructive heresies
- they will teach doctrines of demons - using deductive reasonings this will be so that people will be "devoted" to those teachings as described in 1 Tim 4
- they will teach every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes as decribed in Ephesians 4:14-15
- they will lead you astray as described in Proverbs 10:17
How can one who is supposedly of Yah do this? The simple answer is, they aren't of Him. Christ said:
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44
Between what Christ says without stuttering and other scripture, these things tell us they are children of the devil. Trying to "teach" them won't help. If it does, then we can effectively draw satan to Christ for salvation. No one with the Spirit of Yah can lie about Him. The Spirit brings us into truth and teaches us all truth. He would not have us lie on or about Him. One who does not have Him and still teaches isn't teaching the truth and if they are getting "benefits" they probably don't want truth (or else they'd be seeking it and accepting correction instead of trying to find ways to skirt around correction and "make it fit" to continue to deceive and gain the Bride's benefits). And THIS is why we are not to try and "rehab" them. If their hearts are to change, that will be solely the work of the Father in them. If we continue to bear with them, the scripture is clear on what will happen to us.
This is a hard understanding. Many of us are friends with, family of, or are taught by false teachers. Step foot in a church on any given Sunday, and you are probably walking into a den of darkness. And "home churches" or fellowships are not immune. The enemy lurks in all people who seek any "need" outside of Christ and his agents have needs that he can provide no matter how big or small the "following".
I know we want to see them do better, we want to help, we want to believe what they have to sell. But it is in our best interest to follow the instructions of Yah. Leave them be and let Him deal with them the way only He can. With false teachers, we are dealing with a matter of the heart - for it is not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out. And what comes out comes from the heart.
Stay vigilant in these last and coming days. Many are sent to decieve and draw you away from Yah. It is up to you to not fall victim and seek the truth in Him always.
Love,
Deidra
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