Naming False Teachers

[The bearen]

Is it right to publicaly name false teachers.
A wonderful christian brother who has a discernment ministry Justin Peters is his name.
Our very own Todd Friel has had him on his show entitled 'Wrethced'.

Justin was on Genesis/Revelation TV ( A UK cristian broadcast) a week or so ago being interviewed ..

The orginisers cut the programme short because they accuesed Justin of naming names of false teachers.

Its so sad as Justin comes accross as a humble guy who knows his stuff and has a great website exposing false teaching in the church.

is it right to name false teachers in the light of scripture?

dave

[Buzzardhut]

I believe a good shepherd and watcher protects the sheep from the wolves.

[yoohoo]

Is it right to publicaly name false teachers.
A wonderful christian brother who has a discernment ministry Justin Peters is his name.
Our very own Todd Friel has had him on his show entitled 'Wrethced'.

Justin was on Genesis/Revelation TV ( A UK cristian broadcast) a week or so ago being interviewed ..

The orginisers cut the programme short because they accuesed Justin of naming names of false teachers.

Its so sad as Justin comes accross as a humble guy who knows his stuff and has a great website exposing false teaching in the church.

is it right to name false teachers in the light of scripture?

dave

Satan twists the Word of God into making the church (and the world) believe it should NEVER exercise judgment or name falsehoods. "Judge NOT that ye be not judged" is well known by the rebellious and used to judge the church LOL.

The Lord Jesus warned the disciples (church) of the Pharisees (Matt 7:15) and called them out face to face (Matt 21:31-35). In His Revelation letters He approves of calling out false teaching, apostles, prophets etc.

Paul said “MARK THEM which cause divisions and offenses CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17) and called out false teachers (2 Cor.11:13, 2 Tim.2:17-18, 2 Tim. 4:14)

John ditto (1Jn.4:1, 3Jn:9-10)

The early church fathers named heresies after the false teachers (Arianism after Arius, Pelagianism after Pelagius, etc.).

If the shepherds do not name both the lie and the preacher of lies then it is the mark of a worthless shepherd who offers no protection for the sheep, and if they teach the "no judging" heresy they oppose both the Word and God.

Praise God for Justin. Didn't Paul rebuke Peter in public for coming back under the law? But Peter was deceived and repented immediately.

These men that Justin names twist the Word of God for their own sakes. I like how Wm MacDonald puts it...

“It is an ungodly tolerance that has allowed so many pulpits in America to be filled with ‘false apostles and deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ’. Detecting a resemblance to conditions in Elijah’s day, J Sidlow Baxter writes ‘Such are the people who today, with sickly kindness, will tolerate teachers of errors in our pulpits because they are such smooth-mannered and amiable gentlemen. They would rather allow error to be preached and souls to be deceived than hurt the preacher’s feelings. Let Baal be worshipped rather than drought come! Let the cancer kill its victim rather than the cruel surgeon use the knife!…The best thing that could happen to some so-called Christian ministers of today is that they should be denounced in God’s name by their hearers’.

It is a sinful tolerance [1] that refuses to castigate a false church system that leads millions to eternal destruction with its perverted gospel. [2] That honours its head as a great evangelist at the same time that he is condemning evangelicals as wolves. [3] That labels God’s prophets as divisive when they denounce its idolatry, its mariolatry and its other heresies. [4] That sends converts back into its deadening clutches.

What has happened to the church of the martyrs?

We have an enormous craving for popularity. This is the stuff of which false prophets are made. We have a desire to avoid unpleasantness at all cost. A desire like this keeps us from confronting, from intervening when we should.

We have a distaste for being different. We find it easier to move along with the crowd, to drift with the tide. It is all too easy to remain silent when we are in an adverse theological climate. We are ‘slaves who dare not to be right with two or three’.

We have lost the capacity for being angry. We are not easily enough disturbed. We are in the sorry state of having no capacity for indignation. We are experts at putting off decisiveness simply because we don’t want to act.

Sometimes we are too blinded by friendship to stand against wrong. When a Christian spoke out against E. J. Carnell’s book ‘The Case For Orthodoxy’ because it argued against the inspiration of the Scriptures, a friend of the author said ‘Well you do not know him personally as I do. He is a gracious gentleman, a godly man’.

Jay Adams was right when he said ‘In some circles, the fear of controversy is so great that preachers and congregations following after them will settle for peace at any cost - even the cost of the truth - God’s truth. The idea is that peace is all- important. Peace is a biblical ideal…but so is purity. The peace of the church may never be bought at the price of the purity of the church. The price is too dear’.

Ecumenism and catholicity are two great buzzwords today. Let’s all get together. Don’t do or say anything to rock the boat. Doctrine divides, they say. What we need is unity.

What we really need is to contend earnestly for the faith in a day when it is being attacked, diluted and denied. We will be tolerant in matters of indifference but intolerant of departure from the truth of God. With Luther, ‘Here we stand. We can do no other’.”

Disciples of Christ are held accountable for progressively learning and proclaiming the whole will and counsel of God, which includes warning others of false teachings and those responsible for them (see also Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 33:7-9; 34:1-10; Acts 20:26-32; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 2:17-18).

Christ’s true representatives are known by their purity of character and doctrine (Tit. 1:5-9; 2:6-8).

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (EXPOSE) them.” Ephesians 5:11

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

This is the protective love of the LORD. Here is the list of the 8 evil doers the great apostle was inspired to justifiably identify by name in 2 Timothy:

* 1) Phygellus 1:15
* 2) Hermogenes 1:15
* 3) Hymenaeus 2:17
* 4) Philetus 2:17
* 5) Jannes 3:8
* 6) Jambres 3:8
* 7) Demas 4:10 (apostate)
* 8) Alexander the coppersmith 4:14

See http://www.forgottenword.org/naming-names.html

See also Jn MacArthur
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfnCDAN1q9w

Praise God for Justin's obedience to the pure Word of God. Go Justin go!

[Nightelf]

The Apostle Paul himself publicly named two pastors who were teaching heresy.... in 1 Timothy 1: 18-20

This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies
previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, keeping
faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in
regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have
delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

The reason false teachers are dealt with publicly is that their teaching is public. One does
not need two or three witnesses or a private meeting to determine if a public teaching is
Biblical or not. Everyone who heard them knows what they believe and teach. At issue is
whether the teaching is Biblical. False teaching damages the church, and it cannot be
tolerated.

From the article, The Believers Call to Judge part 3 – Naming Names
More on this here:

http://cicministry.org/commentary/worldview0018.pdf

[LightOfMyLife]

I agree that false teaching needs to be dealt with. Evil prevails when nothing is done. I respect people whose actions line up with what they profess. This world talks a lot about being politically correct, but Christians are to be scripturally correct. There are a lot of wolves in sheeps clothing, and I also believe that we are not to sit back and do nothing about it. We are not to be people pleasers, but God pleasers. It is time true believers stop compromising, and let people know your fruit is good. Don't be a bad apple be a good apple.

[Jesuschangesall]

Satan twists the Word of God into making the church (and the world) believe it should NEVER exercise judgment or name falsehoods. "Judge NOT that ye be not judged" is well known by the rebellious and used to judge the church LOL.

The Lord Jesus warned the disciples (church) of the Pharisees (Matt 7:15) and called them out face to face (Matt 21:31-35). In His Revelation letters He approves of calling out false teaching, apostles, prophets etc.

Paul said “MARK THEM which cause divisions and offenses CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17) and called out false teachers (2 Cor.11:13, 2 Tim.2:17-18, 2 Tim. 4:14)

John ditto (1Jn.4:1, 3Jn:9-10)

The early church fathers named heresies after the false teachers (Arianism after Arius, Pelagianism after Pelagius, etc.).

If the shepherds do not name both the lie and the preacher of lies then it is the mark of a worthless shepherd who offers no protection for the sheep, and if they teach the "no judging" heresy they oppose both the Word and God.

Praise God for Justin. Didn't Paul rebuke Peter in public for coming back under the law? But Peter was deceived and repented immediately.

These men that Justin names twist the Word of God for their own sakes. I like how Wm MacDonald puts it...

“It is an ungodly tolerance that has allowed so many pulpits in America to be filled with ‘false apostles and deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ’. Detecting a resemblance to conditions in Elijah’s day, J Sidlow Baxter writes ‘Such are the people who today, with sickly kindness, will tolerate teachers of errors in our pulpits because they are such smooth-mannered and amiable gentlemen. They would rather allow error to be preached and souls to be deceived than hurt the preacher’s feelings. Let Baal be worshipped rather than drought come! Let the cancer kill its victim rather than the cruel surgeon use the knife!…The best thing that could happen to some so-called Christian ministers of today is that they should be denounced in God’s name by their hearers’.

It is a sinful tolerance [1] that refuses to castigate a false church system that leads millions to eternal destruction with its perverted gospel. [2] That honours its head as a great evangelist at the same time that he is condemning evangelicals as wolves. [3] That labels God’s prophets as divisive when they denounce its idolatry, its mariolatry and its other heresies. [4] That sends converts back into its deadening clutches.

What has happened to the church of the martyrs?

We have an enormous craving for popularity. This is the stuff of which false prophets are made. We have a desire to avoid unpleasantness at all cost. A desire like this keeps us from confronting, from intervening when we should.

We have a distaste for being different. We find it easier to move along with the crowd, to drift with the tide. It is all too easy to remain silent when we are in an adverse theological climate. We are ‘slaves who dare not to be right with two or three’.

We have lost the capacity for being angry. We are not easily enough disturbed. We are in the sorry state of having no capacity for indignation. We are experts at putting off decisiveness simply because we don’t want to act.

Sometimes we are too blinded by friendship to stand against wrong. When a Christian spoke out against E. J. Carnell’s book ‘The Case For Orthodoxy’ because it argued against the inspiration of the Scriptures, a friend of the author said ‘Well you do not know him personally as I do. He is a gracious gentleman, a godly man’.

Jay Adams was right when he said ‘In some circles, the fear of controversy is so great that preachers and congregations following after them will settle for peace at any cost - even the cost of the truth - God’s truth. The idea is that peace is all- important. Peace is a biblical ideal…but so is purity. The peace of the church may never be bought at the price of the purity of the church. The price is too dear’.

Ecumenism and catholicity are two great buzzwords today. Let’s all get together. Don’t do or say anything to rock the boat. Doctrine divides, they say. What we need is unity.

What we really need is to contend earnestly for the faith in a day when it is being attacked, diluted and denied. We will be tolerant in matters of indifference but intolerant of departure from the truth of God. With Luther, ‘Here we stand. We can do no other’.”

Disciples of Christ are held accountable for progressively learning and proclaiming the whole will and counsel of God, which includes warning others of false teachings and those responsible for them (see also Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 33:7-9; 34:1-10; Acts 20:26-32; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 2:17-18).

Christ’s true representatives are known by their purity of character and doctrine (Tit. 1:5-9; 2:6-8).

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (EXPOSE) them.” Ephesians 5:11

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

This is the protective love of the LORD. Here is the list of the 8 evil doers the great apostle was inspired to justifiably identify by name in 2 Timothy:

* 1) Phygellus 1:15
* 2) Hermogenes 1:15
* 3) Hymenaeus 2:17
* 4) Philetus 2:17
* 5) Jannes 3:8
* 6) Jambres 3:8
* 7) Demas 4:10 (apostate)
* 8) Alexander the coppersmith 4:14

See http://www.forgottenword.org/naming-names.html

See also Jn MacArthur
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfnCDAN1q9w

Praise God for Justin's obedience to the pure Word of God. Go Justin go!

I find it difficult to do,but I believe is my wrong perception of humilty....so I AGREE!

[Christina]

These men that Justin names twist the Word of God for their own sakes. I like how Wm MacDonald puts it...

“It is an ungodly tolerance that has allowed so many pulpits in America to be filled with ‘false apostles and deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ’. Detecting a resemblance to conditions in Elijah’s day, J Sidlow Baxter writes ‘Such are the people who today, with sickly kindness, will tolerate teachers of errors in our pulpits because they are such smooth-mannered and amiable gentlemen. They would rather allow error to be preached and souls to be deceived than hurt the preacher’s feelings. Let Baal be worshipped rather than drought come! Let the cancer kill its victim rather than the cruel surgeon use the knife!…The best thing that could happen to some so-called Christian ministers of today is that they should be denounced in God’s name by their hearers’.

It is a sinful tolerance [1] that refuses to castigate a false church system that leads millions to eternal destruction with its perverted gospel. [2] That honours its head as a great evangelist at the same time that he is condemning evangelicals as wolves. [3] That labels God’s prophets as divisive when they denounce its idolatry, its mariolatry and its other heresies. [4] That sends converts back into its deadening clutches.

What has happened to the church of the martyrs?

We have an enormous craving for popularity. This is the stuff of which false prophets are made. We have a desire to avoid unpleasantness at all cost. A desire like this keeps us from confronting, from intervening when we should.

We have a distaste for being different. We find it easier to move along with the crowd, to drift with the tide. It is all too easy to remain silent when we are in an adverse theological climate. We are ‘slaves who dare not to be right with two or three’.

We have lost the capacity for being angry. We are not easily enough disturbed. We are in the sorry state of having no capacity for indignation. We are experts at putting off decisiveness simply because we don’t want to act.

Sometimes we are too blinded by friendship to stand against wrong. When a Christian spoke out against E. J. Carnell’s book ‘The Case For Orthodoxy’ because it argued against the inspiration of the Scriptures, a friend of the author said ‘Well you do not know him personally as I do. He is a gracious gentleman, a godly man’.

What we really need is to contend earnestly for the faith in a day when it is being attacked, diluted and denied. We will be tolerant in matters of indifference but intolerant of departure from the truth of God. With Luther, ‘Here we stand. We can do no other’.”

Disciples of Christ are held accountable for progressively learning and proclaiming the whole will and counsel of God, which includes warning others of false teachings and those responsible for them (see also Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 33:7-9; 34:1-10; Acts 20:26-32; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 2:17-18).

Christ’s true representatives are known by their purity of character and doctrine (Tit. 1:5-9; 2:6-8).

I agree with your whole post yoohoo, but the above stood out for me, how true! This is a huge problem in the churches today!

[The bearen]

Wow Excellent Yoohooo.

Plus others very good , you have spelled it out so clearly.

Who knows that Lord may well use this whole episode that Justin went through to really bring to light more widely the dangers of entertaining WoF teachers.

Here's a link to justins website:

http://justinpeters.org/media.html

if you click on 'Wretched ' the interview with Rapture Ready's Todd Friel, it will shock you when you hear for youself what Gloria Copeland and Clefflo Dollar crazy claims .

Dave

[OnceWasLost]

We have hashed this out before and the simple answer is yes! Not every believer takes the time to know all the major players they see on the bookshelf at the local "Christian Book Store" so, watchmen are a hugely important group needed to alert the flock to danger in their midst.

That said, those same Watchers need to be sure of what they say, and know for fact what they report.

Discernment is a gift that must be shared by the person to whom God has given it!

[billiefan2000]

I believe a good shepherd and watcher protects the sheep from the wolves.

I have in my town publically warned folks online and offline about false teachers such as Eric Elnes and Jane Florence


and also of people such as Mark Ashton and Les Beauchamp and Jay West who promote false teachers



I get flak for it but I believe people knowing the truth is important.

[SaintTexas]

The Lord gave so many warnings.

Paul named names with false teachers. Scripture is the model.

[Anddra]

by Ray Yungen
February 15, 2010

With regard to the current spiritual deception coming into the church, let us ask two questions: Is it right to judge? And do all paths lead to God?

Jesus Christ foretold in Matthew 7:22-23:

Many will say to me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

I find it most interesting that people who were doing "many wonderful works" or miraculous works in His name were, in reality, working "iniquity" or evil. This leads me to believe that a great deception is occurring.

These verses also tell me that all paths do not lead to God and, because they do not, one had better judge which path is correct. Many people, of course, counter with, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." However, taken in context, this verse (Matthew 7:1) is talking about hypocrisy in human behavior and not about withholding critical examination of spiritual teachings. Galatians 1:8 bears out the necessity to evaluate spiritual teaching with proper discernment. Paul warns:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

And II John 1:9-11 says:

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

And again in Ephesians 5:11, "...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

How may we reprove something if we don't determine whether or not it fits the bill of "unfruitful works?" In II Timothy 3:16-17, we read:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [complete], thoroughly furnished [fully equipped] unto all good works.

Read article ...

[Lucid]

To this day, I regret not calling out the "evangelist" who led my SBC church in leading the church to invite the Hindu god "OM" to our sanctuary.

The greatest sin that day wasn't the deceived sheeple following that man, but my silence in not rebuking him publicly and on the spot. Well, come to think of it, my sin must've been the second worse -- right after his invoking the name of that devil.

I'll never do that again. A painful lesson I learned.

[Amber Lynne]

The Lord gave so many warnings.

Paul named names with false teachers. Scripture is the model.

[dleader]

I can't add anymore to the above but was glad to read it and learn.

[randall]

I agree in the calling out of false teachers as previously quoted scriptures have verified but I do think to be in agreement with the holy spirit we have to be careful how and with what attitude we do it in. I think to be judgemental and arrogant does go against god's holy word. We should instead, yes, call out they're errors, but meanwhile pray for them and search our own hearts that it will be revealed to us the areas in our own lives that we may go against gods word.

[Angela]

It's a shame that Genesis/Revelation tv did that. I'm in Britain, and for the most part G/R is quite good. However, they, like everyone else in Britain seem to be infected with this belief that if we're really mature then we won't mention names and won't deliberately hurt anyone. Sounds ok, but what actually happens is young Christians who don't know who's being talked about (because the names aren't mentioned) are led astray. And people like G/R have to deal with the consequences of that.
I think this isn't such a problem in America where there is a quite a substantial body of mature believers, but in Britain mature believers are not the norm. (Due to the frankly shocking standard of teaching in the vast majority of churches in the UK.)

PS, it's good to be back!

[thaddeus]

Thank you for posting this information. It has been very helpful. I'm form America. Please pray for my country. As a whole it is falling away from it's Christian heritage that founded it in the first place. Christians are being denied rights more and more every day. Some are even getting killed over it. You won't hear that on the news here because the Liberals are doing everything they can to pervert or stop the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No one or nothing can stop Jesus Christ anyways. I know it's a whole lot worse in other parts of the world. Pray for those brothers and sisters as well. Our government is letting terrorist groups fund mosques so they can spread their false beliefs (force) on others. They're actually building training camps to carry out terrorist attacks on us and our few true allies. No matter what God is going to take care of his Children. Pray for the lost that they may become saved. Pray that the muslims will have visions and dreams that Jesus Christ is the only way to the one and only real God. Pray that they'll have visions and dreams that Jesus Christ was (is) God in the flesh. Pray for Israel as it defends it's own borders from a determined enemy. Every true Christian will support Israel no matter what. If they don't then I know for a fact that they're not because they deny the words of Jesus Christ when he says pray for Jerusalem. It says the same thing in psalm or proverbs. I can't recall where but I know it's in there. Again thank you and take care and God bless. I'll be praying for the lost and other believers in Jesus Christ where your from.

[debradean]

Being new here, I am going out on a limb. I have been searching for over a year. I attended one church, that on the surface, seemed right. They held a class "about our church" that day so I attended. I knew little about Jesus. This class told all these demands a person HAS to commit to doing. I was very uncomfortable, and somehow felt something was wrong.

Later that night I looked at the booklet they gave me. It listed all the demands, and the last sentence in this booklet was "If you cannot fulfill these, you have come to the wrong place".

I never went back. But I did follow the minister's blog, and it led me to the source of this model, Perry Noble of Newspring church.

I researched him and I was shocked at what I found. If there is a seeker church out there, that is one of the worst.

He cannot and will not listen to criticism, shouts from his pulpit that any person who questions him is from Satan. Every person.

He claims at least 100 "salvations" every sunday, he has his close circle around him, nobody knows his salary, and we don't know what is done with the huge amounts of money he takes in.

His youth pastor calls their youth program, and I have a screen shot to prove this, "BAMF". I was horrified. The huge band they use playes AC/DC songs, one is Highway To Hell, and his teens dance and wave the "rock on" hand sign.

I know of a man who, not a member, decided to check this church out, and when he went there for sunday service, was questioned, then sent away "because he didn't have a ticket".

Perry Noble, in a sermon (it can be found on their site) talked about how he was in a restaurant, overheard two teen girls say something he didn't like, and said "he prayed to God saying "Let me take them out. Jesus turned out the temple. I will take them out". He was saying it is biblical to literally harm teen girls, minding their business in a public place.

He just wrote on his blog last night "you leaders who say you don't have "whatever" to church plant, shut up! I don't want to hear it. Do it and stop making excuses". The man is obsessed with numbers, nobody who attends that church can get a one on one with him, and he keeps an army of lawyers.

I know very little but this man is, to me, a cult leader.

I hope this is okay. The thread is about naming false leaders, and this one, in my opinion, is just plain dangerous.

[Nightelf]

Debradean, you are *absolutely right* about Perry Noble. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I am so glad that even in your "pre-salvation" state, you could see that from a mile away!!!

If you search Perry Noble on our site, you should come up with some threads where we've talked about him and showed videos of some of the outrageous things he has said... stuff that will make you