Tag: Sound Doctrine

Discernment Bible Study

Choose What Is Right: A Study in Discernment- Lesson 9

Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

How Can I Tell if Someone Is a False Teacher?

Today’s Scripture passages are embedded in the body of the study. Please click the links in each question.

Questions to Consider

Throughout this study we will be looking at various passages of Scripture rather than working our way through a book of the Bible verse by verse. Because of that, we will need to be extra vigilant to rightly handle these passages in context. I will always attempt to provide the context you need for understanding these passages correctly, but if you need more clarity please feel free to read as much of the surrounding text as you need to – even the whole book, if necessary – in order to properly understand the passage presented.

How can you tell if someone is a false teacher? Is it someone who disagrees with you on any point of doctrine? What if your pastor makes an honest mistake while preaching – is he a false teacher? How about denominations that “do church” differently from yours?

We can’t just go around willy nilly calling everyone a false teacher. A false teacher is someone who unrepentantly, despite biblical correction, consistently teaches, either implicitly, explicitly, or via his or her behavior, doctrine that is in direct conflict with clear cut Scripture. How do we identify someone like that? Let’s take a look at what Scripture says about testing teachers to see if they’re false or true to God’s Word.

1. Carefully examine 1 John 4:1-6. Zero in on 1a (stop at “…from God”). Is this written as a command or a suggestion? Explain the “do not” and the “do” in this command. What does this tell you about the Christian’s obligation and responsibility not to simply take teachers/teachings at face value, but to be a good Berean (see lesson 2, link above to refresh your memory) and, with intentionality, put that teacher/teaching to the test? Is discernment an option or a matter of obedience to God’s command?

Read this background on 1 John. Which genre of biblical literature is 1 John? What was the primary false teaching John was writing to combat in passages like 4:1-6? In light of this information, look closely at 2-3a. What is the “litmus test” John gives his readers that will rule out the majority of false teachers they are likely to encounter in that time and culture? Is this still a valid biblical test of a false teacher today? But have you ever encountered a teacher today who claims that Jesus was not fully human? Yet, are there still false teachers today? So, did God and John mean for Jesus’ incarnation to be the only test of a false teacher?

Consider 2-3a in light of 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 and 2 John 7,9. What is our standard for the nature and character of Jesus – for who He is (2 John 9)? If someone is teaching a “Jesus” (or a “God/Father” or a “Holy Spirit”) that does not match Scripture’s clear teaching about Him, is that person a doctrinally sound teacher (“Spirit of God”) or a false teacher (“spirit of the antichrist / not from God”)?

Based on your answers to the questions above, in your own words, what is the general biblical principle we can extract from 1 John 4:2-3a, 1 Corinthians 12:2-3, and 2 John 7,9 about the nature and character of Christ, as test number one of a false teacher?

Test 1:

Which two spirits does God say teaching comes from? (1 John 4:1a, 2a / 3a, b) Notice the repetition of the phraseology “from the world” and “from God” in 1-6. List the characteristics of someone who is from the world versus someone who is from God. Into which of these two categories does the “Spirit of God” (2a) fit? The “spirit of the antichrist / not from God” (3)? Who are the “you / we / us” and the “they/them” in 4-6? Read the last sentence of verse 6. By what will you know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error? (Hint: What is “this”? Backtrack in verse 6.) This is test number two of a false teacher. State it in your own words.

Test 2:

2. Read Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:18-22. (Old Testament “false prophets” are analogous to New Testament “false teachers”.) In the 1 John 4 passage above, we surmised from the context of the passage and historical information that gnosticism / docetism was the prominent false teaching during that time in history. What can you surmise from these passages may have been some of the features of the false teaching Israel was encountering at this point in her history?

Read the first full sentence (v. 1-3a) of Deuteronomy 13, and explain its instructions in your own words. Try to put yourself in the place of the original audience of this instruction. As an Old Testament Israelite, what would you have understood God to be saying?

Have you heard of any “Christians” today who claim to be prophets, have the “gift of prophecy,” claim God spoke to them in a dream or vision, or perform “signs and wonders”? These are all typical of New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) heresy (click the links in the paragraph above the video for examples), and these passages in Deuteronomy are very helpful in identifying them. (Or maybe you can think of other religions, cults, or movements that seem to fit this passage’s description?)

Having seen the videos of “prophecies” and “signs and wonders” at the link above, how does the Deuteronomy 13 instruction apply to you if you walk into a NAR “church” today? What might it look like for a “sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass”? What kinds of teachings did you see in the videos that would fall under the category of “‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them’.”? Did you hear any of these “prophets” or teachers encouraging you to worship Baal, follow Molech, or serve Chemosh? What about the “God,” the “Jesus,” and the “Holy Spirit” they teach? Do their teachings line up with Scripture, or are they encouraging you to follow and serve a false god, created in their own imaginations, which they blasphemously call “God,” “Jesus,” or the “Holy Spirit”?

State, in your own words, the third test of a false teacher from Deuteronomy 13:1-3a. (Be sure to include the “if/and” from verse 1, the two main “and’s” in verse 2, and the implied “then” from verse 3a.)

Test 3:

Carefully examine the Deuteronomy 18 passage. Using your cross-references and the immediate context of Deuteronomy 18, who are the “prophet” and “you” in verse 18?

How does this passage say the Israelites may determine whether or not someone is a true prophet, genuinely speaking for God (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, etc.), or a false prophet? (21-22) As a 21st century Christian, how would you properly apply this test to a teacher or “prophet” today?

State, in your own words, the fourth test of a false teacher from Deuteronomy 18:22. (Be sure to include the “if” as well as the implied “then” in the final sentence.)

Test 4:

How do the Deuteronomy 13 and 18 passages contrast false teachings/teachers and false prophecies/prophets with the one true God, His true teachings, and His true followers? How does this apply to Christians today? What are the characteristics of a true follower of Christ (13:3, 4, 18:18-19, 21c)? How can these characteristics help you determine whether or not someone is a false teacher and/or whether or not you, or someone you know, might be following a false teacher?

3. Read Galatians 1:6-9. What is the false teaching being addressed in this passage? What are the two, nearly identical, phrases in verses 8 and 9 that begin with “a gospel contrary…”? What do these two phrases mean? Compare them to these passages. Where did Paul’s and John’s audiences hear the gospel and teachings they received “from the beginning”? Where do we get this same gospel and teachings today?

What is the term for “some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (7b)? Does Paul exempt himself or anyone else from false teacher status if that person is preaching a different gospel than the one taught in Scripture?

What is test 5 of a false teacher according to this passage?

Test 5:

4. Some Christians say that overtly teaching a false gospel – an unbiblical way of getting saved (see some examples here)- is the only teaching that qualifies someone as a false teacher. Is that true according to Scripture? Can you think of a false teaching that’s not directly connected to the plan of salvation? Here are some examples from Scripture.

What are the two false teachings mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:3? Are they directly connected to salvation? How does verse 2 characterize those who teach these false doctrines? How does verse 1 characterize the teachings?

What is the false teaching mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:18? How does God characterize this false teaching in 17a, 18a, and 18c?

If God characterizes restrictions on marriage, food, and eschatology, which are not directly related to salvation, as “deceitful,” “doctrines of demons,” and “gangrene,” and those who teach them as conscience-seared, insincere liars, having swerved from the truth and upsetting the faith of some, is it true that someone is a false teacher only if he teaches a false way of salvation? What else qualifies as false teaching, and what is our standard for evaluating it? What is test six of a false teacher?

Test 6:

5. Examine these passages from 1 John. When the Bible instructs us not to do something and we do it anyway, what is that called? When the Bible instructs us to do something and we fail or refuse to do it, what is that called?

Explain the phrases “walk/walked” (2:6), “makes a practice of sinning” (3:4,8,9), and “keeps on sinning” (3:6,9). Is John talking about a Christian who’s striving for holiness, sins, repents, and keeps on striving for holiness? How can you tell?

How does God characterize a person who claims to be a Christian, yet unrepentantly walks in sin, or makes a practice of sinning? (2:4, 3:6, 8, 10) Explain the connection God makes in these passages between knowing / loving God and obedience to His commands. If a “Christian teacher” lives in willful, unrepentant sin, on an ongoing basis, is that someone you should receive teaching from? Why not (2:4b, 3:8a, 9a, 10)? State test of a false teacher number seven from these passages.

Test 7:

In questions 1 & 2, we gleaned from context and historical information the types and features of false doctrine that were prolific when 1 John 4 and Deuteronomy 13 & 18 were written. We also saw specific tests designed to combat these specific false teachings. We can do the same for the specific false teachings prolific in our culture today.

In my experience, currently, the most widespread false doctrines that are “spreading like gangrene” in the church today are the New Apostolic Reformation / Word of Faith (prosperity gospel), progressivism (liberal, woke, social justice, feminist, perversion affirming, etc.), and a general air of antinomianism (basically, the 21st century version of Judges 21:25b– “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”).

Aside from the fact that most of their specific beliefs demonstrably conflict with clear cut Scripture, there are two features that are common to all of these false doctrines. They are usually easy to spot and require minimal knowledge of theology, making our next two tests of false teachers practical and relatively quick. They are both “sub-tests” of test 7 because they both involve walking in specific unrepentant sins.

Read 1 Timothy 2:11-3:7. What two things does 2:12 prohibit women from doing in the gathering of the church body? Is this limited to the Sunday morning gathering of a local church? What are some examples of other Christian events where the church (Christians) physically gathers for worship and Bible teaching?

Examine the pronouns and other gender markers in 3:1-7. The office of pastor / elder / overseer is limited to which sex, male or female?

What are the three ways a woman might disobey these biblical instructions in 2:12 and 3:1-7? What are the three ways a man/pastor might disobey these biblical instructions by what he allows, encourages, or invites women to do? If he or she is biblically corrected about his or her sin, but unrepentantly persists, how does this connect to what you just learned from 1 John about walking in sin, keeping on sinning, or making a practice of sinning?

In addition to the fact that the woman (or man) violating any of these prohibitions is sinning herself, what is her behavior – pastoring, preaching / teaching Scripture to men, or exercising authority over men – teaching her audience about their obligation and responsibility to obey God’s commands? Is it false doctrine to teach, even implicitly, via one’s behavior, that Christians are free to ignore or disobey any Scripture they dislike or disagree with?

From 1 Timothy 2:11-3:7, what is test 7a of a false teacher?

Test 7a:

Read these passages. Answer the following questions for each passage:

  • In what way does the passage characterize false teachers?
  • How are Christians supposed to respond to false teachers?
  • What is the result of either avoiding, or failing to / refusing to avoid false teachers?

Why does God instruct Christians – including Christian teachers – to avoid, and not to partner with false teachers? Read these passages.

  • What is the danger of partnering with false teachers in 1 Corinthians 15:33?
  • Who is the false teacher’s (servant’s) master in 2 Corinthians 11? What does Luke 16:13 say about serving two masters? Can a teacher serve both Christ and Satan?
  • How do Matthew 10 and Luke 6 apply to a Christian teacher learning from, and being influenced by false teachers?

Since it is direct disobedience to God’s Word (sin) for any Christian – but especially a teacher, whom God holds to a higher standard – to unrepentantly and persistently fraternize or partner with false teachers (again be reminded of what the 1 John passages said about walking in unrepentant sin), and since false teachers will always influence their disciples away from Christ and the truth of His Word, what is test 7b when you’re vetting a teacher?

Test 7b:

6. What is the common theme running through all of these tests? What is our measuring stick for determining whether a teacher passes or fails each of these tests? What is one broad, general test that could encompass all of these tests?

If you’re testing a teacher to discover whether or not he or she lives, believes, and teaches in obedience to God’s Word, you need to know the Word as thoroughly as possible. You can’t know something contradicts Scripture if you don’t know what Scripture says and how to handle it correctly and in context. How can you become a good student of the Word? What are three ways God has provided you to learn and understand the Bible better? (hint hint hint)

Homework

  • Create a checklist listing each of the tests of false teachers you’ve learned in today’s lesson. Be sure to include Scripture references for each. Keep it in your Bible or another handy place so it’s easily accessible when you need to test a teacher.
  • Imagine you’re a Berean vetting Paul. Use the tests and Scriptures from today’s lesson. Start with this passage, its cross-references, and everything else you know about Paul and his teachings. Does Paul pass or fail each of the tests of a false teacher?

Suggested Memory Verse

Discernment Bible Study

Choose What Is Right: A Study in Discernment- Lesson 8

Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Ewes Need to Take Care
to Avoid the Wolves

Read These Passages

Questions to Consider

Throughout this study we will be looking at various passages of Scripture rather than working our way through a book of the Bible verse by verse. Because of that, we will need to be extra vigilant to rightly handle these passages in context. I will always attempt to provide the context you need for understanding these passages correctly, but if you need more clarity please feel free to read as much of the surrounding text as you need to – even the whole book, if necessary – in order to properly understand the passage presented.

1. Carefully study the first five verses of the 2 Timothy passage. Using your cross references, any other related passages, and perhaps a side by side comparison with other reliable translations, or an interlinear, define or explain each of the characteristics listed in these verses:

  • lovers of self-
  • lovers of money-
  • proud-
  • arrogant-
  • abusive-
  • disobedient to their parents-
  • ungrateful-
  • unholy-
  • heartless-
  • unappeasable-
  • slanderous-
  • without self-control-
  • brutal-
  • not loving good-
  • treacherous-
  • reckless-
  • swollen with conceit-
  • lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-
  • having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power-

Is Timothy saying these things are characteristic of the world, the visible church (Christians and non-Christians), genuinely regenerated Christians only, or some combination of these three? Why do you think so?

From the immediate context and the context of the Bible in general, does verse five’s admonition to “avoid such people” mean only the people described in verse 5 or all of the people described in verses 2-5? Generally speaking, why would God want us to avoid all of these types of people, especially if they claim to be Christians (5) while acting this way? Go back through your list above and explain why it would be detrimental to your character and your walk with the Lord to associate with people of each of these character types.

2. Now, more specifically, why does verse 6 say to avoid these types of people? (Note: What word does verse 6 start with? What’s another word we could use there in place of “for”? When you’re looking for the reason God said something, words like “for” and “because” can help you answer the question, “Why?”.)

Compare the phrase “those who creep into households” in verse 6 with the metaphor we saw Jesus use in lesson 6 (link above), particularly in John 10:1. Who are both of these verses talking about? How do both of these verses describe the infiltration of false teachers into the church and home? Are false teachers above board, walking in the truth of Scripture?

Compare the concept of “capturing” in verse 6 with the concept of “thief and robber” in John 10:1. What does it mean to capture someone and to commit thievery and robbery? Why does God use this imagery for false teachers? Compare this idea of false teachers absconding with or luring away people to whom they have no right with John’s description of doctrinally sound “gatekeepers” (pastors and teachers, v. 3). Do doctrinally sound pastors have to deceptively lure or steal people away to the true teaching of Christ? Why not? What do they do instead (3)?

3. At this time, I’d like “ewes” :0) to focus on the second half of verse 6. Who, precisely, does God say the false teachers creep in and capture? Does He say “weak men”? “Weak Christians”? “Weak people”? Considering the fact that God never misspeaks and always says exactly what He means, why (6b) does God specify that “weak women” are in danger from false teachers?

What does God mean that these women are “burdened with sins” and “led astray by various passions“? Why would a woman in this spiritual condition be especially vulnerable to false teachers? What would a doctrinally sound pastor or teacher tell her about her sins or her fleshly cravings and feelings? Read 6b in light of 2 Timothy 4:3-4. How would a false teacher scratch her itching ears about her sins and passions?

4. Really ponder the meaning and weight of verse 7. Gaggles of weak, sinful women always reading a book or listening to a podcast by a false teacher, going to “Bible” study after “Bible” study featuring materials by false teachers, spending hundreds of dollars year after year on tickets for conferences and simulcasts headlined by false teachers. Always learning, but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth,” and “[Father,] Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” Think about it. If your friends who follow false teachers are never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth, Who and what are they not learning about?

5. And why is that? How do we know they’re not learning the truth from these false teachers according to verse 8? In what three ways does God characterize these false teachers in 8b? What does it mean that they “oppose the truth,” are “corrupted in mind,” and are “disqualified regarding the faith”? How do each of those characteristics prevent vulnerable women from arriving at a knowledge of the truth?

6. Remember that 2 Timothy is a pastoral epistle, so the passage we just read may be instructive to us as women, but to whom is it primarily written? (see lesson 7, link above, if you forgot). How is God demonstrating His love and care for women in this passage by instructing pastors to watch out for these false teachers who prey on women, and keep them out of the church?

7. Read the Genesis 3 passage and 1 Timothy 2:14 through the lens of what we’ve just looked at in 2 Timothy 3. Why do you think Satan may have approached the woman in the Garden instead of the man? How do these passages work together to alert us as women to vigilantly watch out for a potential blind spot we may have regarding false teachers and deception?

God created women with some incredible strengths. Generally speaking, women are usually much better nurturers than men. We’re usually better communicators than men. And, frequently it’s much easier for women to trust, love, and give the benefit of the doubt to others than it is for men.

And along with those unique strengths come unique challenges. For example, being trusting is a fantastic character trait, but it’s imperative that we be vigilant not to put our trust in the wrong person – like a false teacher.

Why is it especially important that women learn and practice discernment?

Homework

  • Second Timothy 3:5 instructs us to “avoid” ungodly people, especially those who claim to be Christians and turn out to be false teachers. “Avoid them.” Does this command leave room for the “chew up the meat and spit out the bones” approach so many Christians think is appropriate to use with false teachers today? What about the common idea that it’s OK to use songs with “biblical” lyrics from heretical groups (like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation) in our worship services? Does “Avoid them” allow for that? Read #8 here.
  • Some professing Christians defend false teachers by saying, “Look how many people she’s helping!”. If false teachers’ audiences are “never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth,” are they really helping anybody? Read #3 here.

Suggested Memory Verse

Discernment Bible Study

Choose What Is Right: A Study in Discernment- Lesson 7

Michelle Lesley

Previous Lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Refuse to Heed the Shepherd and You’ll Have the Wool Pulled Over Your Eyes

Today’s Scripture passages are embedded in the body of the study. Please click the links in each question.

Questions to Consider

Throughout this study we will be looking at various passages of Scripture rather than working our way through a book of the Bible verse by verse. Because of that, we will need to be extra vigilant to rightly handle these passages in context. I will always attempt to provide the context you need for understanding these passages correctly, but if you need more clarity please feel free to read as much of the surrounding text as you need to – even the whole book, if necessary – in order to properly understand the passage presented.

1. We need a firm foundation. What is that firm foundation? First and Second Timothy and Titus comprise what are known as the “pastoral epistles”. They are God’s instructions, via Paul, to Timothy, Titus, and all other pastors about how to run the church. I often liken the pastoral epistles to a “policy and procedure manual” for the church.

Even in these three very brief epistles, God has a lot to say about sound and false doctrine, and sound and false teachers. Read these passages from the pastoral epistles (you may wish to read more of the surrounding verses for context). What is the foundation of a healthy church? How does a foundation of being intentional and purposeful to preach and teach sound doctrine protect a church against the infiltration of false doctrine and false teachers?

Meditate on Paul’s solemn charge to pastors in the 2 Timothy 4:1-2 passage. Explain exactly what he is saying in these verses. Would you liken this charge to a vow or “oath of office”? Why or why not? Put yourself in Timothy’s sandals. Do you feel the weightiness of this charge and responsibility? How so?

As Paul is preparing to leave the Ephesian church, he mentions two ways, in Acts 20:29-30, in which false teachers can infiltrate the church. What are those two ways? How does a solid foundation of sound doctrine help guard against false teachers coming into the church from the outside, and prevent those who are already church members from believing false doctrine and becoming false teachers inside the church?

2. Regarding discernment, why do we need the firm foundation of the preaching and teaching of sound doctrine? Examine these passages. (Compare the verse references to the passages from question 1. See the proximity and context?) Why, in the context of discernment, is the teaching and preaching of sound doctrine so crucial? What will happen to those who refuse to heed sound doctrine? Which adjectives does Paul use in the 1 Timothy passage to paint a picture of the deceitfulness of false teachers? How does Paul address the idea of people being deceived and departing from the faith in these passages – as a possibility or a certainty? (Hint: Look for the word “will”.)

3. How is this deception accomplished? Are these people who “depart from the faith” deceived solely by the false teachers, self-deceived, or both?

Study these passages. What do they tell us about a person’s role in her own deception? Who is taking the initiative in these two passages, the false teachers/prophets, or the people who want to follow them? In the Isaiah passage, before the people turn to the seers and prophets in verse 10, how does verse 9 describe them? What have they already turned from? In the 2 Timothy passage, before the people turn to false teachers (3b) and myths (4b), what have they already turned away from (3a, 4a)?

Compare 2 Timothy’s “they will accumulate for themselves” and “teachers to suit their own passions” (3b) with Isaiah’s 10-11. How did the people in Isaiah proactively pursue or accumulate false teachers? What were “their own passions” they wanted to suit? Are people who turn to false teachers hapless, powerless victims of those false teachers or willing participants in their own deception?

Again, what happens when you “refuse to heed the Shepherd” (Jesus, His Word, sound doctrine, etc.)? Think about the nature and definition of the word “deceived”. Do deceived people know they’re deceived?

But if every teacher out there only taught sound doctrine, would self-deceived people be able to accumulate teachers to themselves to suit their own passions? It’s kind of a symbiotic relationship, isn’t it?

Study these passages. What do all of these passages say false teachers disguise themselves as? Make a list of the words and phrases from each passage that led you to your answer:

  • 2 Corinthians 11:
  • Galatians 2:
  • 2 Peter 2:
  • Titus 1:

Think about some of the false teachers you’re aware of (or check here if you need a little help). Do any of them go by the title “False Teacher”? Introduce themselves as false teachers? Write books and give interviews as experts in the field of false teaching? What titles do they go by? What do they want to be known as?

In the 2 Corinthians passage, what does Paul say the false apostles claim? (12) Are their claims true? (13) What three words in verse 13 indicate that these men are not honest? Compare verses 14-15 with Jesus addressing the Pharisees (the false teachers of His day) in John 8:42-47. Who is the spiritual “father” of these false teachers in both passages? Who do they actually serve? Are they actually Christians, as they claim to be? What does Paul mean, “Their end will correspond to their deeds.”(15)? What will their end be? (Hint- use your cross references)

Why do you think some professing Christians believe even the most egregious false teachers are actually Christians despite what these passages teach to the contrary? Is it fair to say they are believing the false teacher’s word over God’s Word?

Compare the 2 Corinthians passage and the John 8 passage above with Genesis 3:1-7. What similarities do you see when it comes to the descriptions of Satan’s character and methods?

Homework

Read 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Carefully examine each passage that deals with either the need to preach and teach sound doctrine or the need to rebuke and refute false teachers or false doctrine. Why is the proactive, purposeful, and intentional teaching of sound doctrine vital to the health of the church? How does sound doctrine itself refute false doctrine? Why is it imperative to rebuke and remove unrepentant false teachers from the church?

A common argument against the public rebuke and refutation of false teachers is that, “You shouldn’t warn against them, you should just pray for them.” (see #10 here). How would you answer that argument with the passages you examined in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus?

You may wish to refer to parts of my studies on the pastoral epistles as you study:

1 & 2 Timothy: The Structure and Spirit of the Church

Titus: God’s Order of Service

Suggested Memory Verse

Discernment

Throwback Thursday ~ Discernment Hysteria and the God Who Wins

Michelle Lesley

Originally published April 8, 2016

There are a lot of different facets to Christianity. There’s worship. Fellowship with other Christians. Studying God’s Word alone, with our families, and with the local church. Evangelism. Serving at church. Teaching. Discipling other believers. Prayer. All of these things, and others, are vital to a healthy, growing relationship with Christ.

But things can get out of whack if we focus too much on any one of these areas to the neglect of others. Spend too much time in prayer, and you could overlook serving others. Focus on evangelism too much, and your Bible study time might suffer. It can be tricky, but it’s important that we keep a good balance in our walk with the Lord.

If you’re like me you probably have one or two areas that you’re tempted to go overboard in. My temptation is studying, particularly in the area of discernment- false doctrine and false teachers. It’s a fascinating topic, and people educated in the field of discernment and doctrine are desperately needed in the church today.

But if you spend a lot of time studying discernment –and many do- it can get pretty discouraging pretty quickly. You begin to realize just how pervasive false doctrine is and how many false teachers there are. It’s in your church, at your child’s Christian school, on your Christian radio and TV stations, in your Christian bookstore. It’s everywhere. And it’s not just the home grown heretics who spring from the soil of already apostate “churches.” We’ve also got men and women who were once trustworthy teachers and preachers of God’s Word turning traitor and joining the forces of evil at an alarming rate. They just keep coming and coming, always more and more. It’s starting to feel like Invasion of “The Body” Snatchers.

False teachers just keep coming and coming. It’s starting to feel like Invasion of “The Body” Snatchers.

I hear often from women approaching panic and frenzy over the state of the church. And I get that, because I regularly feel the same way. But for all of us, there are some great reasons to take a step back when we get overwhelmed. To breathe, to relax, and to rejoice in some good news in the midst of the heresy hurricane.

There are some great reasons to take a step back when we get overwhelmed. To breathe, to relax, and to rejoice in some good news in the midst of the heresy hurricane.

God is both sovereign and just.

And praise His name for that. Nothing, and I mean nothing, escapes His notice. He sees everything- every thought, every action. There is going to come a day of reckoning for the enemies of God. They will get exactly what they deserve, and God will be good for punishing them. When it’s all said and done, nobody’s getting away with anything, and nothing is going to slip through the cracks.

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13

It is God’s job to preserve the church, not ours.

Thousands of years. Extreme idolatry and blasphemy. War. Exile. And yet God preserved a remnant of His people throughout the Old Testament. He preserved the church through its infancy of persecution and heresy. And He will continue to preserve His church today. Should we fight false doctrine the best we can? Yes. Will some local churches fold and apostasize? Yes. But, saving the church is way too big a job for us. Ultimately, the burden of preserving the Bride is on the Bridegroom.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25b-27

God’s Word isn’t changing.

It doesn’t matter how loudly people scream that this sin or that sin is OK. It doesn’t matter how many people teach the most unbiblical false doctrine or how widespread its acceptance is. God’s Word is God’s Word. And God’s Word changes for no man. The Bible – not anyone’s opinion or the general consensus of sinful humans – is the standard God has issued and the rod of judgment He will wield. God’s Word isn’t going anywhere.

for
“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
1 Peter 1:24-25

It doesn’t matter how many people teach the most unbiblical false doctrine or how widespread its acceptance is. God’s Word is God’s Word. And God’s Word changes for no man.

The gospel still has the power to save.

God is mightier to save than any false teacher is to deceive. Get out there and keep faithfully scattering that gospel seed and proclaiming God’s truth. A lot of people will reject it – just like they did when Jesus preached it – but some will listen and be saved. They’re worth it.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Isaiah 59:1

God is mightier to save than any false teacher is to deceive.

Heaven awaits.

Look around. This is all just temporary. In Heaven, there is no false doctrine. There are no false teachers. There will be no more contending for the faith. We will all finally be able to worship Christ in the splendor of His holiness with out any hint of error impeding us or infiltrating the Body.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Revelation 21:1-3

Be encouraged my sisters, and don’t grow weary in well doing. Because God is mighty. He is still on His throne. He is still saving souls.

And hear me, and cling to this as you walk through this evil world: God wins.

Let that sink in and drive you to rejoice and worship. The devil may do his worst in the world, but God wins.

he wins

Cling to this as you walk through this evil world: God wins. Let that sink in and drive you to rejoice and worship. The devil may do his worst in the world, but GOD WINS.

Discernment

Throwback Thursday ~ Amputating Discernment Ministry from the Body of Christ

Michelle Lesley

Originally published February 2, 2018

“There’s no place for Christian blogs and podcasts. Preaching, teaching, and encouragement should only be done by pastors and teachers in the local church.”

“Open air preaching ministry needs to go the way of the dinosaur.”

“Pro-life ministry organizations just cause too much strife. Lost people are going to reject the gospel because of them.”

“The Bible nowhere mentions Christian legal defense organizations.”

You’ve probably never heard someone give one of these statements as a reason for doing away with podcasts or street preaching or the ADF, but these days it seems like everybody – including doctrinally sound, discerning Christians – is screaming, “Off with its head!” about parachurch discernment ministries for these supposed reasons, and others. It’s become the bandwagon du jour. The popular whipping boy for Christian social media. The here-today-gone-tomorrow zeitgeist of online evangelicalism.

Among those who wish to amputate discernment ministry from the Body are good, solid, loving, godly brothers and sisters in Christ. I just wish they realized that there are many of us on this side of the discernment fence who are also good, solid, loving, godly brothers and sisters in Christ.

Among those who wish to amputate discernment ministry from the Body are good, solid Believers. I just wish they realized that there are many of us on this side of the discernment fence who are *also* good, solid Believers.

It is a sad irony that the genuinely good guys who are clamoring for the death of discernment ministry are, in some cases themselves doing the very things they accuse discernment ministries of doing. While they may give a brief hat tip to “some discernment ministries aren’t so bad”, in calling for the disbanding of discernment ministry across the board, they effectively lump everyone who does any sort of discernment work – regardless of how infrequently or how biblically it’s done – into the same category as those who indiscriminately lob a constant barrage of truth-bending, vitriolic grenades at everyone from the rankest heretic to the reputable, doctrinally sound brother who has a slightly different take on their eschatological view. And in the same way it wouldn’t be fair to throw these brothers and sisters who speak from biblical love and concern for the church into the same bin as “Christians” who scream like banshees about discernment ministry because they just want to worship their idols in peace without their consciences being pricked, it’s not fair to unilaterally declare that discernment ministry should be banned, either.

Rebuke those doing discernment work whose character, behavior, and handling of Scripture is so egregious it disqualifies them from any ministry whatsoever (and, unfortunately, they do exist) but encourage those who do discernment ministry right.

Just like you would with any other ministry.

Rebuke those doing discernment work whose egregious character, behavior, and handling of Scripture disqualifies them from ministry, but encourage those who do discernment ministry right. Just like you would with any other ministry.

Because if there were ever a dire need for discernment ministry done right and biblically, it’s now. Banishing the discerning altogether would be neither biblical nor beneficial to the Body.

Discernment: A Major Theme of the New Testament

The Old Testament is rife with idolatry, syncretism, and false prophets. Every book of the New Testament except Philemon deals in some way with false doctrine or false teachers and the importance of keeping them out of the church and away from Christians. It is a major issue throughout the Bible, but particularly in New Testament theology and ecclesiology. Jesus dealt with it. Paul dealt with it. So did Peter, Jude, John, and other New Testament figures.  Part of the reason the 21st century church is so steeped in false doctrine and enamored with false teachers now is that we have been brushing discernment aside for so long instead of bringing it front and center like the Bible does. If the Holy Spirit – the author of Scripture – considers discernment to be so vital, shouldn’t we?

If the Holy Spirit – the author of Scripture – considers discernment to be so vital, shouldn’t we?

Amputating Body Parts

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit…the ability to distinguish between spirits…All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills…But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-8a, 10b, 11, 18-21 (emphasis mine)

Discernment (distinguishing spirits) is just as ontologically valid a spiritual gift – a manifestation of the Holy Spirit – as any of the others listed in 1 Corinthians 12. It is a biblically legitimate gift, service, and activity given for the common good of the church and empowered by the same Spirit, Lord, and God who gives and empowers the spiritual gifts of those who would do away with discernment ministry. Spiritual gifts are given by God and arranged in the Body as He sees fit. It is not for one individual body part to say to another, “I have no need of you.” Selah.

Discernment is a biblically legitimate gift given for the common good of the church and empowered by the same Spirit who gives and empowers the spiritual gifts of those who would do away with discernment ministry.

Check Your Privilege

If you’re a discerning person who goes to a discerning church, has a discerning pastor and elders, and hangs out with discerning friends maybe you don’t see that there’s much of a need for discernment ministry.

And if you lived in Hawaii, you wouldn’t see much of a need for snow shovels, either.

But if you lived in Alaska, you would.

We each exist in our own little bubble of personal experience. And if your bubble is one where pretty much everybody is discerning, make sure you thank God profusely for that every day, because you are extremely blessed. You’re also an extremely rare anomaly, because the vast majority of the rest of Christianity has no clue what that’s like. The 99 per cent-ers live in a bubble that looks like the shelves of your local Christian retailer – some good stuff (if you know where to look) and a whole lot of skubalon. And most of them don’t know the difference because they’ve never been taught. Don’t assume your experience is the norm for everyone.

Maybe you don’t see that there’s much of a need for discernment ministry. And if you lived in Hawaii, you wouldn’t see much of a need for snow shovels, either. But if you lived in Alaska, you would.

Of Course Pastors Should Be Leading the Way

One of the most common arguments I hear against discernment ministry is that it’s the job of the pastor, not discernment ministries, to teach discernment. And with that statement, I could not more heartily agree! Discernment work is half of a pastor’s job description:

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Titus 1:9 (emphasis mine)

So let me ask you 99 per cent-ers: when was the last time you heard a pastor rebuke someone who contradicts sound doctrine? Or call a false teacher by name? Or teach about a currently popular false doctrine and warn against it? I am honored to know several pastors who aren’t afraid to faithfully perform this part of their job, and God bless them for it. We need far more pastors like them. Yes, pastors should be spearheading the work of discernment in their local churches. But by and large, they’re not. And the Bible doesn’t say that only pastors have the gift and responsibility of discernment. It is insanity to tell ready, able, and willing laymen with garden hoses to stand down and watch a building burn to the ground while they wait…and wait…and wait…for the professional firemen who may never show up.

Yes, pastors should be spearheading the work of discernment in their local churches. But by and large, they’re not.

But Lost People Will Reject the Gospel!

Lost people already reject the gospel. That’s why they’re lost. They don’t get any lost-er by seeing a discernment ministry critique a false teacher. In fact, I’ve known of lost people who have expressed their thanks to discernment ministries for denouncing the blasphemies of false teachers. Even in their spiritually blind state many unbelievers know a wolf when they see one. Sometimes – to our shame – even better than those who call themselves Christians. When someone rejects the gospel, it is no more the fault of a discernment ministry than it is the fault of a pro-life ministry, a ministry that disciples newly saved homosexuals, or any other type of biblical ministry. God is sovereign in salvation. He will save who He means to save, and no mere mortal is going to prevent Him from doing so.

When someone rejects the gospel, it is no more the fault of a discernment ministry than it is the fault of a pro-life ministry, a ministry that disciples newly saved homosexuals, or any other type of biblical ministry.

Your Comfort Versus Their Souls

Whatever it is that bothers you about discernment ministries, is your state of botheration as important as the spiritual condition of the person that discernment ministry is reaching? Maybe you’re worried about those lost people out there who might reject the gospel because of discernment ministry conflict. Are you just as concerned about the lady in the pew next to you at church who’s every bit as lost as those people “out there” because she listens to false teachers who preach a false gospel that’s made her a false convert? What if a discernment ministry could help her understand the truth of the gospel? It’s happened. I’ve heard many stories of false converts Providentially “stumbling upon” a discernment ministry, hearing the unadulterated gospel for the first time, and getting saved.

What about the Christian woman who spends her quiet time in tears every day because she’s been falsely taught that God will talk to her if she just listens hard enough and has enough faith, and she’s in despair because she’s not hearing from God? What if a discernment ministry could set her free from that burden by teaching her what the Bible really says and steering her away from those who have deceived her? It’s happened. I know it has, because something similar happened to me. Is your annoyance at discernment ministries more important than her spiritual health?

Whatever it is that bothers you about discernment ministries, is your state of botheration as important as the spiritual condition of the person that discernment ministry is reaching?

There is absolutely a place – a good, God-ordained, nobody-puts-Baby-in-a-corner place – for discernment ministry in the Body of Christ. Inside the church, online, in parachurch ministry, from pastors, elders, and laymen alike. Yes, those who abuse their position of ministry – in any ministry – should be rebuked and removed. But we don’t do away with entire spiritual gifts and areas of ministry because of a few bad apples. Instead of amputating, maybe we should be excising gangrenous tissue instead. Otherwise we’ll just be shooting ourselves – the Body – in the foot.

There is absolutely a place – a good, God-ordained, nobody-puts-Baby-in-a-corner place – for discernment ministry in the Body of Christ.