Testing the Teacher

 February 27, 2023

Christians can be pretty gullible. The gap between faith and gullibility isn’t always very big, and history is littered with the wreckage of lives gone off the rails courtesy of a convincing and charismatic preacher. It’s nothing new; from the very beginning, Paul faced off against teachers who distorted or watered down his gospel of grace and faith in Christ alone. So from the beginning, he warned Christians of the danger of such teachers when he was no longer around to guide them. 

In Acts 20, Paul gives some of the warning signs of false teaching.

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ””

—Acts 20:29-35 

Paul doesn’t mince words; these false teachers are like savage wolves out to devour and destroy. False teaching isn’t benign; it is an evil to be avoided at all cost. But to avoid it, we must be able to identify it. In his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, he lays down some of the warning signs.

First is perversity. Though he doesn’t elaborate, he surely includes sexual perversity. It is tempting to believe that people who have listened to any sort of Biblical teaching would know that anything other than a monogamous relationship between a husband and a wife is off limits, but religious fervor is often accompanied by all sorts of forbidden sexual activity. Any teaching that condones sexual activity outside of marriage, or minimizes purity is a red flag for false teaching.

Second is a personality cult. Anyone who builds a following around himself is likely to be a false teacher. Such leaders refuse accountability to anyone outside themselves and get defensive and upset if questioned.

Third is an obsession with money. Anyone who has ever watched late night religious programming is familiar with the “send money for a blessing” scam. While every ministry needs money to survive, the way some of these preachers flash their diamond rings and expensive clothes is a warning to us to be wary.

In contrast to these warning signs, Paul shows us what we should be looking for. Genuine affection and concern for people is right up there at the top: “I didn’t cease warning everyone night and day with tears.” He speaks of building them up with the message of grace (instead of guilt). He worked hard to provide for himself and his team, not burdening his followers or demanding favors from them. Lastly, he taught and modeled the life of a faithful follower of Christ (v.35–“I have shown you…”).

This is a short, but important, list. It’s not exhaustive; he doesn’t say anything about what we believe about the death and resurrection of Jesus, or of his full divinity and humanity. This list is a bit more subtle, and somewhat of a litmus test of a spiritual teacher designed to protect God’s people from those who would take advantage of them to their detriment.