Can You Spot A Fake?

There are special agents assigned to the US Treasury department who are experts in identifying counterfeit currency. These members of the Secret Service can spot an authentic bill from a fake in an instant. They gained this ability over intense specialized training. Their time was not devoted to learning all about counterfeit techniques. Although valuable information to have, the focus of their training was learning exactly what authentic US currency looks like. They spent countless hours studying each and every detail exhaustively. Their training makes it very difficult for a counterfeiter to fool the discerning eye of the agent.

False teachers are counterfeiters of Scripture. Can you spot a fake? Can you recognize sound biblical doctrine from false teaching?

A few years after Pentecost, around 67 AD, the Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to his beloved protégé, Timothy. In 2 Timothy, Paul addresses the subject of false teaching and warns Timothy of the dangers that lie ahead that could disrupt the unity of the church.

We’re going to look at 2 Timothy Chapter 3, verses 1 through 7, but to establish context let’s review Chapter 2.

Through his own experiences, the Apostle Paul is keenly aware of the presence of false teachers who will attempt to disrupt the unity of the church and the Gospel message Timothy is charged with preserving. Paul encourages Timothy to be strong in his understanding of the Gospel and Scripture so that he will be well equipped to present the word of truth.

Although Paul is hopeful that false teachers will repent, he also realizes that many will not. With this in mind, he begins Chapter 3 with a greater focus on the characteristics of false teachers who will oppose the church.

(2 Timothy 3:1-7) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

In verses 2 through 4 Paul presents a list of characteristics that paints a graphic picture of false teachers. Clearly he was very passionate about this topic.

He begins and ends the list with misplaced love. False teachers are lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

When asked by the Sadducees which of the LORD’s commandments was greatest, Jesus replied that “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

The second sin we’ll mention is well represented on the list. Proud, arrogant, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, unappeasable and swollen with conceit are all signs of pride.

In the Book of Romans, Paul writes “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

Abusive, heartless, slanderous, brutal, treacherous and reckless are more aggressive outward traits that have self-love and pride at their root as well. These represent malice and ill-will towards others and certainly violate God’s command to love thy neighbor.

If you knew someone who fit the characteristics Paul outlined, would you want to be friends with him? Would you want him leading your church? I would not want to be in the same room with this person, let alone be led by him. So then, why are so many led astray and influenced by false teachers?

The answer is in verse 5. “Having the appearance of Godliness”. False teachers hide their deceit beneath a façade of Godliness. They claim to be preaching the truth that will set us free when in fact they are enslaving us with lies.

I am reminded of one of my favorite childhood movies, The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard was presented to the people as this huge and powerful figure, dazzling us with illusions of power. But eventually the veil of deceit was lifted as we were told to “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”. We saw that the wizard was not real. We saw that the wizard was created by a power-hungry man with no real power at all.

The Book of Genesis records the serpent in the Garden of Eden as the first false teacher, and throughout history many have followed, all with the same goal. To separate man from God.

The blatantly obvious and extreme examples of false teachers in modern history are easily identified. The world categorizes these men as Cult Leaders. Jim Jones and the People’s Temple. David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. Marshall Applewhite and the Heaven’s Gate cult.

I believe a greater danger lies in the false teachers who are more subtle in their teaching.

Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church. Charles Taze Russell and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. L. Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology. Benny Hinn. All of these men have reached millions of naïve victims with false teaching. All of these men claim to be Christians. Satan uses these men to weave a net of deceit in the world that goes unnoticed and unchallenged by most people.

Scripture has a lot to say about false teachers. Following are references to just a few:

(Deuteronomy 4:2) You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

(Proverbs 30:6) Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar

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

(1 John 4:1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

At first glance false teachers give the appearance of Christians. They come disguised as angels of light teaching the word of God. They use Scripture as a tool to lure followers into Hell. They proclaim salvation via a life of works. They redirect your focus to the teacher rather than to God’s Word. Their teaching omits the true Gospel of salvation by faith alone.

There was a sense of urgency in Paul’s writings to Timothy. Paul exhorts Timothy that end times will bring times of difficulty. We too must heed Paul’s warning and be on constant vigil watching for false teachers who will attempt to disrupt the unity of the church.

Can you spot a fake? Are you strong enough in your theology to identify and protect your family from false teaching? What are we to do?

STEP ONE: Identify False Teaching. Spot the fake.

How does a Secret Service agent determine if currency is authentic or counterfeit?

1. He holds the bill up to the light. If we suspect false teaching we must hold it up to God’s light. Will His light illuminate the words of the teacher or shine through them proving them to be without substance?
2. A Secret Service agent will examine the bill closely for irregularities. We must compare what we hear to Scripture. Examine it carefully. Does their word align with God’s Word?
3. When you present a large bill to a cashier, they use a special pen to help spot a fake. It would be nice if we could run a special pen across someone’s forehead to see if they are a fake wouldn’t it? Well, our special pen is our Bible. The Bible is our special tool. God’s Word will shine through and illuminate counterfeit or fake teaching.

STEP TWO: Equip and protect ourselves against False Teaching

In the Book of Ephesians we are commanded to lead our families, loving and protecting them as Christ loved and led the church. It is our responsibility as leaders of our family to protect them as well as ourselves against false teaching.

Our sword in this battle is the inerrant truth of Scripture. Our greatest ally is God.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is God Breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God many be well-equipped for every good work.

What steps can we take to equip ourselves and our families against false teaching?

1. Prayer is the single most important thing we can do. Ask God to lead and guide you in your battle against false teaching. Pray with your family. Ask others to pray for you. Pray that God will convict you to spend more time in His Word.
2. Daily reading of Scripture. Clothe yourself in God’s Word. Read your Bible every day. Don’t just read Scripture, study it. Strengthen your knowledge of Scripture and theology. If you don't already own one, get and use a study Bible.
3. Join a small group study. Small groups have done so much for my growth as a Christian.
4. Seek advice and counsel from Godly men. Talk to your Pastor. Attend conferences and seminars. One-on-one discipling is an amazing way to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of scripture and theology.

STEP THREE: Avoid false teachers. The Apostle Paul taught us how to recognize false teachers. In verse 6 his command to us is to “avoid such men”. In the English language, avoid is used as a passive term. Avoid sweets. Avoid discussing politics at a party. It’s a suggestion. A recommendation. We get the word avoid from the Greek word apotrepo (appa tre’ poh). The Greek have a much stronger definition of the word. It literally means to shun. To shut out. To turn away from. Paul isn’t suggesting we make our best effort to avoid false teachers. No, he is commanding us to shun them. To cast them out of our lives. To turn away and flee if necessary. If you are given a counterfeit $20 do you keep it? Do you put it in our pocket and deal with it later? No. You refuse it. You give it back and want no part of it. The fake $20 is worthless to you. False teaching is worthless to you as well.

Now, what if we share some of the characteristics Paul listed? For me, reading 2 Timothy 3 led me to self-examination. When I read that list I felt convicted because I was guilty of many of those sins. Does that make me a false teacher? No. But it poses the issue of credibility. Our best defense against false teaching is to lead by example. Our lives need to be a living testimony of our walk with God. If we exhibit sinful characteristics, we are viewed by the world as hypocrites. Hypocrisy in the church is a major reason non-believers list as to why they do not seek a relationship with God. To me, this threat to the unity of the church is no less than that of false teaching.

Before we can identify and protect ourselves and our families from false teaching, we have to take a hard look at ourselves. We must be working towards perfecting our own walk before we criticize others.

In Matthew 7:5, Jesus tells us to “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

If we continually struggle with sin issues we must address them using the same steps I just outlined. Sin makes us weak. Sin puts holes in our armor that leave us vulnerable to attacks from Satan. Pray that you will overcome the sin. Seek advice and counsel. Find an accountability partner. Sin loves idle time. Fill your idle time with God, not sin.

There are only two shepherds. There is Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and Satan, the False Shepherd. If we are not in daily communion with our Good Shepherd, the False Shepherd is always ready with his wolves to come down the hill and devour us. If we do not consciously make an effort to keep ourselves in the green pastures of Jesus we may fall victim to the worldly influences around us, which are controlled by the False Shepherd.