False Teachers/Pastors
- Should we name people to others when we find they are false teachers or pastors. The Bible tells us not to judge or gossip about others?
To be able to avoid them, we have to know who they are. Therefore, we need to warn others when we become aware of those that distort the true teachings of Jesus Christ. These people may be in the very church or Bible study we go to. We in fact, years ago knew of such a person in a Sunday School class that tried to interrupt the Pastor who taught the class, with false ideals about the lessons each week. Then one time, he called out when the pastor was preaching and tried to interrupt his message. Eventually, because he finally would not stop, he was asked to leave. And wouldn't you know that he showed up in another church doing the same thing.
Now we command you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother that is walking disorderly, and not in accord with the traditions that you have received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3;6
The apostle Paul did name some false teachers:
Demas in 2 Timothy 4:10
Hymenenaeus and Alexander: 1 Timothy 1:19-20
Philetus and Hermogenes 2 Timothy 1:15
And others. But this one sums it up well, I think:
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:16-18
It is not gossip or sin to tell others when we find someone telling us that they are not lining what they say with the Word of God. Nor is it wrong to shun them And if they come to our home, proclaiming a different gospel, we are not to let the into our home. 2 John 1:10
Does this mean we are not to let Mormons and Jehovah Witness into our home? Well, let me say this. I know for a fact that JW will not come into someone's home. That is unless they can get you to agree to them coming in to teach you their doctrine. They do not want to hear yours. Having said that, we should be willing to at least try to drop a bit of truth to them even if it is just something to make them think. Years ago, 2 women came to our home and I asked them about the 144,000 that is in Revelation 7. They believe (or did at that time) that those 144,00 were JW and were the ones that "were sealed." And so I had asked them what they believed they were sealed to. They said they would be in heaven. And so then I said that, well by now I understand that your church has way surpassed 144,000 members, so if that is true, where will you two go?
You knows something? They could not answer that question. They had to admit they didn't know.
You know something else? Those 144,00 are from the 12 tribes of Israel and if you know anything about Israel, they don't believe like the JW do. Not only that, but chapter 7:9, says that there are also many people, more than can be counted, "from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the Lord."
What do they do with that part of scripture?
Well, these ladies did not tell me that. In fact, they didn't stay much longer because they weren't getting anywhere with me. They were most likely unaware of it because they are taught what they are to share and if it is still like it was in those days, they have their own bible. And they give you just enough truth to get your attention and then the rest is false teaching. Then do you know what? If you insist on telling them the truth, they do leave and that is filed away wherever they keep it, and never come back to your door.
They are also told not to let others pray for them, or talk to them about anything other then their own doctrine.
What had I done? I dropped a nugget of the truth in there because, we knew a lady once that had been born into a JW family. One day some Christians came to her door and had said something that made her from another doctrine question about her own doctrine, and it changed her life. She began to ask more questions and she found the real Jesus and got saved and she was so thankful to God for that person she had tried to witness too, instead witnessed to her.
I don't know if what I gave them that day, started them on a search for the truth. I hope it did. But if Christian would give those people a little bit of truth to those that come to their door, instead of turning them away, God can o anything to debunk those false teachings and bring them to him.
We are not to let anyone in with false teaching, but if we give a bit of the truth while they are at the door, it can make a difference to a lost person who would otherwise go to hell because they were not told the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We need to tell those that are in darkness. To call out those that are spewing satan's lies. How else will they know, if we don't tell them?
Today's post gives us a lot of food for thought. It is a serious subject. Next time I will post about Harold Camping and what he believed all those years about end times. After it didn't come twice for him, he did finally say he had been wrong and renounced his sin. I do believe he was saved, I have no doubt it had been an embarrassing situation and for all those who followed him. Anyway, more on him tomorrow if I can get here. But if not, stay tuned, it will come. Thanks for coming and for your patience with me.
This little light of mine, hide it under a bushel, NO! Let it shine til Jesus Comes!
L
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