False teachers constitute
the foremost destructive force to the church in every generation. The damage
they do is probably greater than that done by all other forces combined.
Warnings concerning them are expressed by every writer of the New Testament.
False teachers can be so
mean and ruthless in their approach. They will do anything to discredit a
faithful preacher of the gospel. If he changes his mind, even in an area as
insignificant as travel plans, they will accuse him of being fickle, the
kind of man that talks out of both sides of his mouth. If he receives
support for preaching, they will accuse him of being covetous; if he
doesn't, they will use this fact to discredit his ability and qualifications
as a teacher. They will accuse him of being cowardly. If he is an effective
writer, they will say he is strong in his writing, but weak when confronted
face to face.
False teachers will go to
any end to establish their own credentials. They will somehow come up with
impressive letters of commendation. They will claim credit for work done by
others. They will place themselves in a favorable light through unfair
comparisons. Their accomplishments always seem to be greater than those of
faithful preachers. They specialize in outward appearance.
False teachers will drain
their deceived of everything they can get out of them. They will bring them
into bondage. They will devour them. They will take from them. They will
exalt themselves.
False teachers must be
exposed for what they really are—the ministers of Satan transformed as the
ministers of righteousness.
But before someone accuses
us of judging, let us hasten to say that this appraisal of false teachers is
not ours. It is the apostle Paul's as given in the book of Second
Corinthians
(see
1:15-20; 3:1-5; 10:7-18; 11:7-20),
a letter in which Paul deals, not so much with the doctrinal error of false
teachers as with their vicious tactics. It is our opinion, however, that
things have not changed much in the past 1900 years. False teachers of today
still use the same tactics.
How sad it is that those
who hold to the truth sometimes stoop to such shameful shenanigans, as
though truth must be sustained by trickery and deceit. NO! NO! NO! False
teaching can only be propagated by unfair and evil means. But the teacher of
truth does not depend upon such, for truth does not find its power in human
wisdom or in shrewd, unprincipled scheming, but in the power of God who
gives the increase. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strongholds"
(2 Cor.
10:4). God's "sword
of the Spirit," wielded skillfully in love, can gain the victory among all
who sincerely love the truth.
