Where Are The False Teachers?

Truth takes a back seat in the world of man-made religion. Rather than objective truth, acceptance is of prime importance. You are free to hold on to your religious beliefs as strongly as you like, just don’t try to tell someone else their beliefs are wrong. Within religious tolerance, other doctrines are not wrong, they merely hold a “different truth”.

In March of this year (2019), the Pope told a group of Catholics in Morocco that their mission was not to convert their Muslim neighbors. He instructed them to “live in brotherhood” with other faiths. Concerning Jerusalem, the Pope made a statement declaring that the “multi-religious character” of the region must be “protected and promoted”.

A few years ago, a Methodist congregation in Waco, Texas hired a graduate of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to work as their “associate pastor”. In answer to the initial hesitation about conflicting beliefs, a man on the interview board said, “It’s all right. We don’t have anything against Baptists.”

In 2000, a “transdenominational” group of Christian and Jewish leaders issued a statement acknowledging the positive impacts of both Christianity and Judaism. They put forward several points of agreement between the two faiths and encouraged both sides to learn about and support the other.

From Liberal Catholicism to many Protestant denominations and even non-Christian religions, we are seeing the promotion of pluralism – where multiple, contradicting “truths” can coexist. But if every religious doctrine is right, then where are the false teachers?

The Word of God provides many warnings against false teachers. There were, and are, people who call evil things good (Isa 5:20). There are teachers who proclaim man’s teachings, rather than God’s (Matt 15:7-9). The Bible does not speak of each group having “their truth”. It speaks of obedient sheep and savage wolves (John 10:27; Acts 20:29; 1 John 2:3). There is punishment for those who teach rebellion (Jer 28:16; Rom 1:18). To emphasize acceptance over truth is to be deceived (Rom 1:22-25; 1 Cor 15:33; 2 Tim 3:12-15). 

The church is not concerned with supporting a non-Christian in their error; we are vigilant watchmen (Ezek 33:6; 1 Cor 16:13). We speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). We show the value of true faith and righteousness as opposed to worldliness (Matt 6:24; 2 Cor 6:14; Jam 4:4; 1 John 2:15). This is our work of opposing the forces of Satan and waging spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12; 1 Tim 1:18). Through God’s precepts we gain understanding and fight against the false ways of false teachers (Psa 119:104; Rom 10:17; 1 Pet 3:15; 1 John 5:4).