The Fog Horn
Just as a fog horn sends a warning of impending danger to ships traveling in murky waters, so we hope our fog horn will provide you with some warning signs should you find yourself navigating through occasional “murky waters” of questionable teaching or issues that face most of us today.
The old and new testaments are filled with warnings about false teachers God knows they will be always attempting to lure us away from Him with their aberrant teachings, and that, if we are not prepared and armed with the truth, we can be led astray. Likewise, those who don’t know Him can be duped into thinking they have found Him through these false doctrines.
The greatest protection we have against the enemy's assault from within, is to know the truth. It is the only way we can recognize the lies.
1. Do the teachers confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and is of God?
“2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God. Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:2-3)
This is not just a verbal test. Anyone can verbalize anything. Even the demons recognized the deity of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Acknowledging Jesus involves both words and action. Jesus said, “15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them...” (Matthew 7:15-16)
To genuinely acknowledge Jesus involves a recognition of his true identity as the Son of Almighty God, an open confession of faith in him, and the practical application of obedience to His Word “This is love for God, to obey his commands. . .“ (1 John 5:3)
A word about judging. . . In Matthew 7:1 Jesus tells us “Do not judge...” While we are not to be judgmental about people’s motives and intentions, he does warn us to be on guard for false teachings. Heresy is something we are to be able to recognize and point out. Hence, he exhorts us to watch out for those whose teachings and lifestyles witness against them. Jesus said, ”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
2. Is the teaching or issue in question supported by what has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in Scripture?.
“ 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
“1 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Note that verse 17 says “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped...” The Bible is the full revelation of God. If it were not, it wouldn’t be able to thoroughly equip us for service. Any teaching or practice that is of the Lord will be supported by Scripture as understood in its context.
3. Does this teaching or practice claim to be brought to you by a “new revelation” or on the premise that God is doing “something new”?
In talking about false prophets and teachers, Peter says, “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up...” (2 Peter 2:3) Again, we return to 2 Timothy 3:16. “1 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Again, a key word here is “thoroughly.” God's Word is the complete revelation of God and is able to thoroughly equip us for every good work.
4. Are the teachers of the doctrine in question arrogant?
Jude says in Jude, verse 8, “...these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings.
Whether their counterfeit teachings were produced by their own imaginations or derived from their “visions and dreams” they were purported to be new “revelations” from God, while they were apparently, at the same time, rejecting authority. Anytime we allow any teaching or practice to take precedence over God’s revealed will through his Word, we are rejecting authority. It appears these people even ridiculed spiritual powers that they couldn’t comprehend.
When a teacher puts forth a “new revelation” that is not supported by Scripture, he is demonstrating a dangerous arrogance toward God.
If you are faced with the murky waters of questionable doctrine, heed the warning signals above and ask God for the Holy Spirit to grant you wisdom. You may need to consider “changing your course.”