Tag: false teachers

  • Spoiled Springs

    Beaver damage reminds me of the dangers of false prophets

    A beaver dam - the wtar covered over what used to be a fresg cold spring of drinking water

    Years ago, I had been fishing at a nearby lake. Not far away was a spring I had visited many times. The walk into the spring was about a mile. The water was always cold, refreshing and safe to drink. was always worth the hike.

    This time, things were different. An enterprising beaver had built a dam, and the spring was now underwater behind the dam. So much for cold. So much for refreshing. So much for safe to drink. 

    Where there have been beavers around, the water is likely contaminated with Giardiasis (or beaver fever as it’s called in these parts). Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia. Beaver fever will leave you with a great deal of ugly abdominal distress for weeks and is highly contagious. It’s not the sort of thing that you want to take a chance with.

    The promise of the refreshing water couldn’t be delivered on.

    Something similar happens with false teachers. They bring false gospels and lies. They twist the truth to serve their own ends and agendas. They seek to please man, not God.

    Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15 ESV

    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
    Galatians 1:6-9 ESV 

    They promise what they can’t deliver. They promise living water, but provide empty wells. They promise freedom, but deliver bondage. They promise salvation but deliver damnation.

    These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 2 Peter 2:17-19 ESV

    How do we know which teachings are false? By knowing what we believe and why we believe it. By diligent study of the Word. By making sure that we look at Bible passages in context and in comparison to the Word as a whole. By learning some solid Christian doctrine.

    If you don’t know what you believe and why you believe it, then you may find yourself standing at the foot of a dry spring. You could be seeking living water but end up perishing of thirst instead.

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

    May you know the truth, and the truth of Jesus set you free.

    SUMMARY

    I hiked back into a spring I loved, only to find a beaver had dammed it and turned safe water into a health risk. It reminded me that false teachers work the same way — promising living water while handing us something contaminated.

    TAKEAWAY

    A once-safe spring, dammed by a beaver, becomes a picture of how false teaching corrupts something good

    Scripture (Matthew 7:15, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 Peter 2:17-19) warns plainly about false prophets and false gospels

    The safeguard against false teaching is knowing what you believe, studying the Word in context, and standing on sound doctrine

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  • Those Darn Rats

    a rat eating seed

    Our neighborhood is located directly below a large hill that has several acres of brush and grasslands; immediately beyond the hill used to be a farm. For many decades, it was a prime habitat for rabbits, deer, raccoons, birds, and, of course, rats and mice.

    When clearing started on the farm, we saw less wildlife; that’s to be expected. Now they are cleaning up the hillside for a future park, and the rodents have no place left to live. Our neighborhood is having a minor rat epidemic, and people are doing their bit to eliminate the problem.

    Now, I don’t have a fundamental issue with rats. They’re kind of cute, inquisitive, and smart. They can even be friendly to a degree, and I’m told they make great pets. I do, however, understand that they can cause a lot of damage and can often cause health issues, so it’s undesirable to have lots of them around. That means they must go. I found myself wishing for a mythical pied piper to lead them away (without taking the children later).  We’ll get them in time.

    The rats sneaking in remind me of the way false prophets can creep into a church. They typically come in innocuously enough, but soon the poison can spread through the entire congregation, causing incredible damage.

    It isn’t a new problem

    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

    Now, not everyone who comes into the church who has wrong thinking is a false prophet with a dangerous agenda. Many can be corrected with sound teaching and/or church discipline.  True false prophets need to be found out and removed from fellowship.

    The pastor, the under shepherd of God, acts as a sheepdog to help keep the bad ones at bay. 

    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

    The pastor can’t be everywhere at once or hear every conversation, so the sheep must also learn to be vigilant.

    How do we know who a false prophet is? By knowing the truth ourselves. That comes through regular bible reading and study, listening to grounded preaching, and learning good theology ourselves.

    We must do our bit to be aware and discerning. Let us be diligent to ensure we know the truth.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Some other choices

    Read the Word – choose truth over error