How does the Church avoid “false prophets”?
QUESTION
The Bible warns us about there being false prophets and apostles. But how does the Church avoid them?
ANSWER
Since the first century Church, the false prophet has been an object of concern and therefore requires much discernment. The Old Testament and New Testament warns us that there will be those in the world who will trade the truth of of God’s word for myths, mysticism, and doctrines that are founded in paganism. Their objective is to pull believers away from the truth of God’s word and into false doctrines that lead to ruin. In order to understand how to avoid them, you must be able to discern the difference between truth and false-truth. This is done by careful devotion to the study of God’s word.
Paul warns in 1 Timothy:
1:3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
1:4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
1:5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,
1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
6:3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
6:5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is means of gain.
In verse 3, Paul warns s to be leery of anyone advocates or teaches a “different” doctrine. The question should be when we read this is “different than what”? The answer is different than what we have been given in the word of God. The only and ultimate test of whether a teaching is right or wrong is if it agrees with Scripture or not. We have to always compare it with what it says in the Bible - which is how the Lord instructs, corrects and guard His Church. Where do we know this?
2 Timothy
3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
The word of God will train us, teach us, and correct us Paul says. If righteousness is the goal in your life (as it should for any believer) then the first thing you should be giving you time to is to know what is in the Bible. So by knowing our Bible we will literally be protected from false teaching. The best example of this happening in scripture is found in the response of a group of people called the Bereans and how they responded to Paul’s teaching.
Acts 17:10
17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessaloniki, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see heather these things were so.
The first thing to notice is how the Bible praises the Bereans for being so scrupulous and their willingness to double check Paul’s teaching against scripture. This is an excellent practice for all Christians to follow. As we received teachings from various leaders in today’s Church, we must compare it to what we find in the Bible just like the Bereans were made famous for. This is the only way we avoid false teaching and receive correction from God.
Therefore, the only method the Lord gives His church for avoiding false teachers and for keeping and obedient walk with Him is to know the word of God. EVERYTHING the Church needs to know is found in the Bible. Though many will say there is “more than the Bible” and encourage us to seek other forms of inspiration and “words of knowledge” apart from Scripture, we are told by Peter that everything we need to know is found in our knowledge of Christ and that everything we need to know about Christ is found in scripture. We already have everything we need! Here’s what Peter says about it:
2 Peter
1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to your in the knowledge of God and to Jesus our Lord;
1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.