FALSE TEACHERS - IN DOCTRINE OR IN HEART?           

In promoting and defending doctrinal positions, teachers and preachers have made many denunciations of false teachers whom we identified as persons who teach error. While we have admitted that no one teaches total error, we have declared that any point of error is sufficient to pervert God's Word and make its proponent, a false teacher. Such branding has a solid, fundamental ring to it until one inquires a bit more deeply. The denouncer implies that he himself is in error on nothing!  He is right on everything; hence, he is no false teacher, only those who differ with him. Others teach some error, so they are false teachers by this warped logic. How blind and bigoted can one be!

Warning us of the gravity of becoming teachers, James assures us, "For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says or does, he is a perfect man..."(Jas.3:2ff). So, if teaching some error makes one a false-teacher, then all of us are hell bound, cause there just isn't anyone that knows it all! We are all false-teachers!

It may be surprising to some to learn that the much-used term "false-teacher" is used only once in the scriptures (2-Pet 2:1). The often heard companion expression "false-teaching" is not found even once. False prophets and error are mentioned with some frequency.

The adjective "false" describes the man rather than his teaching. He is a teacher or prophet with a character defect which motivates him evilly, rather than being a sincere teacher who is misinformed and holds a different conviction on some point or points. Let us review a few references to see that this is true.

(1) (2-Pet.2:1-3) The teachers whom Paul wrote about were insidious, greedy, licentious, exploiting, divisive and God denying. They were not sincere, humble men who were ignorant or in need or further study.

(2) (Tit.3:10ff) A factious man, because of his self-seeking ambition, is "perverted and sinful".

(3) 1-Tim.4:1ff) Persons departing from the faith would be "giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the false pretensions of liars whose conscience are seared". These were not honest men who had missed the point on some doctrinal issues. Surely, these were the false prophets of 1-John 4:1-3, the Gnostics who denied that Jesus came in the flesh, the antichrists, whose deceit and licentiousness John deals with throughout his three epistles.

(4) 2-Tim.3:1-7) "Men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith," these insidious men were not simply persons ignorant of truth on certain points. They were unscrupulous characters.

We are indeed in error when we castigate someone who differs from us in his sincere effort to know and do the will of God. He is doing all that you or I could do; his best! He is in error on some things as you and I are in error on some things. The only brothers that we have, are brothers in error, there ain't no other kind. We are all learning and growing. Nearly all of us, are at different positions on the growth chart. Also, some are maturing at a faster pace than others.

Do we gain our confidence and satisfaction from contrasting our own teaching with the teachings of those we denounce, or are we willing to compare the fruits of our lives with those of the people we oppose doctrinally? My self-esteem begins to shrink when I make such a timid comparison. The character of the teacher determines the kind of fruit that will be forthcoming. Many defenders of doctrine have because of defective character and motive, produced the most unholy fruit of division and have been guilty of destroying God's holy temple.

Jesus said,"....no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:39 ff).

The foregoing conclusions have not easily been reached and I'm sorry that it took low these many years to sink-in. I, too long did denounce as false-teachers those who taught differently from me. Thank God for those patient and loving teachers of the Gospel, who bore with me and others, as we started listening to the spirit, as well as the message.

Those who have gained freedom in Christ are free to accept brethren who bear the fruit of the Spirit, even though they are not in total doctrinal agreement on each and every point.

Yours for Truth and Freedom.....Horace Hooper