The Prominence of False Teachers in the Church and God's Purpose That They Serve

Have you ever found yourself captivated by a preacher’s charismatic and emotionally-driven style of speech or worship? Have you ever questioned the integrity of the passionate and seemingly sincere teachings of such a preacher? This is a common dilemma for many Christians as they try to navigate through the seemingly genuine yet unbiblical teachings of some preachers.

The issue of false teachers has been prevalent since the fall of God's creation through Adam. Sin has affected every aspect of our lives, including the way we perceive and understand things, as well as the way we communicate. Apart from Christ, we are inseparable from sin, and as a result, we cannot accept the truth without the help of the Holy Spirit.

So why do some false teachers appear to be so caring, passionate, and sincere?

One common trait among false teachers is their downplaying of the importance that Scripture places on warning against them. Some will even refer to their critics as "scoffers" who are "stopping unity." Often, they will twist Scripture to try to guilt Christians into an unbiblical form of unity. This is necessary for their survival and even their thriving within the visible church. They have to devalue the importance of biblical discernment while making it look like they are being more discerning by doing so. It's trickery.

False teachers must also maintain control and dominion over their congregations. Like Jezebel in the Bible, they may be cunningly deceptive, endorsing covetousness, and only prophesying good things. Teachers and pastors who are seduced by these spirits maintain that they are one hundred percent right and cannot be corrected.

False teachers may elicit real emotional responses from their congregations, appeal to their worldly senses and carnal desires, and create a seemingly supernatural sense of urgency. Their impassioned speeches may be intertwined with trickery and deceitful tactics. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, and false teachers are very good at deception, using many tactics to carry out their sinful purpose.