Who are misleading or false teachers?

Who Are Misleading or False Teachers?

For the longest time I've avoided presenting this issue publicly because of the following scripture: "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye" (Matthew 7:3 (NASB))? However, at this time I'm compelled to publicize this issue because I've witnessed too many false teachings reduce a persons: loving relationship with God, desire to believe and accept God as Savior and leader (Lord), adherence to the 10 Commandments, success in The Great Commission, understanding of the truth in The Holy Bible, and other vital cornerstones of Christianity. I pray this information will prevent false teachings from causing people to turn away from God and Salvation in Heaven.

Defined:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3,4 (NASB)).

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:6,7 (NASB)).

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit" (Matthew 7:15-17 (NASB)).

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NASB)).

"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29,30 (NASB)).

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep" (2 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)).

Response:

"John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us" (Mark 9:38-40; Luke 9:49,50 (NASB)).

The man was 'good', performing a miraculous work, so he was "for us". The man wasn't 'evil', performing bad works, so he wasn't "against us".

""But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit"" (Matthew 15:13,14; Matthew 13:24-30; and Matthew 13:36-43 (NASB)).

The guides were 'evil', performing bad works, so they are "against us" and left to "fall into a pit".

Apparently, so long as a person is 'good', trying to support Christianity, his mistakes and misleading teachings are to be forgiven, and The Messiah wants the person to continue with us in Christianity (however, maybe not necessarily preaching).

Two or more people often come to different conclusions about an issue in The Holy Bible. In this situation, they should review their conclusions to determine if they might intentionally or unintentionally reduce any persons: loving relationship with God, desire to believe and accept God as Savior and leader (Lord), adherence to the 10 Commandments, success in The Great Commission, understanding of the truth in The Holy Bible, or any other vital cornerstone of Christianity.

""If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector"" (Matthew 18:15-17 (NASB)).

"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting" (Romans 16:17,18 (NASB)).

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret" (Ephesians 5:6-12 (NASB)).

Punishment:

"Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19,20 (NIV)).

""Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea"" (Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1,2; and Matthew 18:5,6 (NASB)).

"For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NASB)).

Please read, Examples of misleading or false teachings.