Sadly, Most Christians Do Not Know How To Detect False Teachers And Heretics

 




Sadly, most professing Christians do not know how to detect false teachers because of their neglect of their own personal study of scripture.  They, for their doctrine, instead rely on the pastoral sermon in church, the message of the TV evangelist, radio preacher, internet podcast or video, the teachings of a seminarian, the writings of a prolific author, or the ramblings of a blogger or commentator never considering that what they may be listening to or even reading could be in error and in direct conflict with scripture and as a result, fall prey to false doctrines, heresies, and misinformation.
 
Scripture instructs us to read and study the Word of God for ourselves (2 Tim. 2:15) that we do not do more or less than what it instructs and so that we will be able to teach well to others its instruction and not anything more or less.  When the Apostle Paul preached to the Bereans, the Bereans were commended for searching the scriptures daily to see if what he was preaching to them was from God (Acts 17:11) and we should be doing the same thing likewise as we are also commanded of scripture to test all things (1 Thess. 5:21).  The better we know the scriptures and the more confidence that we have in them, the better able that we, when necessary, will be able to hold accountable those who bring error and false doctrine into our respective ranks and congregations and if need be, expel them from our ranks and congregations until such time that they demonstrate sincere repentance and renounce the errant doctrines that they had brought in.
 
The Apostle Paul had warned that there would be those who would infiltrate the body of Christ and attempt to destroy from within what persecution is unable to destroy from without and that by the introduction of false doctrine and heresy for the purpose of undermining the faith of those whom they attempt to deceive and that also from within their own ranks, there would be those who would invent their own doctrines for the purpose of making a name and following for themselves. (Acts 20:29-30)
 
So, how do we determine whether or not what we are reading or hearing is a product of truth or falsehood?
 
Does what we are hearing or reading add or take away from scripture?
Is confidence in the authority of scripture being undermined?
Does the teaching contradict scripture or the Gospel?
Is the character and integrity of God being maligned and attacked?
Is God being made out to be something He is not?
 
If the answer to any or all of these things is yes, then what we are reading or hear being preached is a false doctrine and needs to be rejected and granted that many within the Church might be able to easily spot the most blatant violations of scripture and confront it, it isn’t always that easy as false teachers are very clever in how they deceive people with their teachings.
 
False teachers do not just add or detract from scripture nor do they just simply teach things contrary to scripture.  As Henry M. Morris pointed out, they distort their meaning “to conform to their own philosophical preferences” [1] going on to further state that in their attempts to convince people that the scriptures do not really mean what they say, they use “feigned words” which Morris defines as “plastic words, with devious meanings to make them say what their users wish to convey.” [2] 
 
(Sounds very much like what the media, many political figures, and a lot of teachers and professors within academia do)
 
A publication called Shadman’s Musings goes even further in depth into the methods and tactics used by false teachers.  Shadman begins by providing the definitions of “deluded” and “persuasive arguments”  According to Shadman, Delude is “to reason into error; to cheat or deceive or defraud by false reasoning” [3] and Persuasive Arguments are “plausible conclusions or deductions; speech adapted to persuade, discourse in which probable arguments are adduced [to be brought forward as evidence]; in a bad sense, persuasiveness of speech, specious or misleading discourse leading others into error.’” [4]
 
In short, false teachers and heretics are able to make their doctrine, and teachings appear logical, reasonable, and sensible and as Shadman rightly observes, they will even intermingle biblical truth with the error that they teach [5] so as to make their teachings more acceptable and especially to new converts to Christ but just because an ideology may appear reasonable and even factual, that does not necessarily make it so which is why we bear the responsibility of taking time to verify all that we hear and read and as far as the Church is concerned, we have a means by which we can test the truthfulness and accuracy of what is being preached from the pulpit and taught in our Sunday school classes, and Bible study meetings and determine whether or not what we are hearing and reading is doctrinally sound but we have neglected to use the very means that have been given to us to determine if that which is being preached or taught is of God and the very means that has been given us to determine the truthfulness of anything are those very scriptures inspired of God Almighty (2 Tim. 3:16) which under the direction of the Holy Spirit were penned, written down, copied, and compiled; held most sacred by the Jews and for which the Protestant reformers had risked and given their lives to ensure that all would have access to that which the Papal Ceasars in their wickedness had tried to lock away in order to maintain their spiritual tyranny over the people and granted that the Protestant reformation was not entirely successful in returning the Church to the doctrinal purity of the first century by which the followers of Christ abided in and which the Apostles had fought so very hard to preserve, they, through their efforts in ensuring that the scriptures were easily accessible to all people instead of just an elite clergy class, were at least able to set the precedent needed for a return to the doctrinal purity of the first century and which should be the goal of every Christian and the entire body of Christ, but sadly, many within the Church have not built upon that precedent but instead have in many ways become far removed from the precedents that were laid forth and as a consequence, the Church continues to be infiltrated, corrupted, and sabotaged by false doctrine and heresy and by those bringing it.
 
I cannot even begin to describe how many false doctrines and heresies abound in the Church today but there is far more deception and falsehood within the body of Christ than there ever has been at any time in its history and the only way that this situation will ever be corrected is if we were all to commit ourselves to placing full confidence in the authority of scripture by which the tenets of our faith are delivered, dedicate ourselves to the regular reading and studying thereof and not just once a week, but as often as it is possible, daily, and make ourselves ready to earnestly contend for the faith that was delivered to all of us. (Jude 3)
 
I don’t know how many of you out there are familiar with George Barna Research, but I find nothing encouraging about the statistics they put forth insofar as biblical literacy and the adherence to a biblical worldview are concerned.  They are very dismal.
 
For example, nearly 70 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Christian [6] but only 25 percent consider themselves practicing Christians [7] and fewer even still hold to a biblical world view (9 percent) despite the fact that over 50 percent claim to hold to a biblical worldview. [8]
 
(There are people claiming to hold to a biblical worldview but don’t seem to understand what a biblical worldview entails)
 
One of Barna’s studies showed that while most professing Christians appeared to have a right understanding of who God is, many of the same were at the same time holding to beliefs contrary to scripture and even the Gospel itself.  A study Barna had conducted in 2021 explains in further detail:
 
 
A large share of this population embraces various biblical principles and truths. For instance:
 
• 79% believe that God has a reason for everything
• 77% say they have a unique, God-given calling
• 74% say they intentionally try to avoid sinning because they know it hurts God
• 72% claim that every moral choice either honors of dishonors God
• 62% agree that the universe was designed and created, and is sustained by God
• 61% believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect and just Creator of the universe
who still rules the universe today
 
 
 
Now, that might appear to be good news, but Barna goes on to explain further:
 
 
But this large group entertains a wide range of perspectives that are not in harmony with biblical
teachings. Among the errant perspectives most widely embraced are:
 
• 72% argue that people are basically good
• 71% consider feelings, experience, or the input of friends and family as their most trusted
sources of moral guidance
• 66% say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue
• 64% say that all religious faiths are of equal value
• 58% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their
way into Heaven
• 58% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of God’s power,
presence, or purity
• 57% believe in karma
• 52% claim that determining moral truth is up to each individual; there are no moral absolutes
that apply to everyone, all the time
 
Self-identified Christians are also likely to reject a number of biblical teachings and principles. For example, slightly less than half (46%) believe that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s plan for humanity, across all cultures; just 40% believe that when they die they will go to Heaven, but only because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior; only one-third (34%) believes that people are born into sin and can only be saved of the consequences by Jesus Christ; just one-third (32%) believes premarital sex is morally unacceptable; and about one out of every four (28%) believes that the best indicator of a successful life is consistent obedience to God. [9]
 
 
 
And when it comes to leadership within the Church:
 
 
 
A minority of Christian pastors think and act biblically in relation to each of the other seven categories
of worldview measurement. Specifically in the other categories, only 47% have a biblical worldview
regarding family and the value of life; 44% concerning issues related to God, creation, and history;
43% in relation to personal faith practices; 43% when it comes to matters of sin, salvation, and one’s
relationship with God; 40% pertaining to human character and human nature; and 40% when it comes
to measures of lifestyle, personal behavior, and relationships.
 
Lowest of all is a category that might have been expected to top the list: beliefs and behaviors related
to the Bible, truth, and morality (39%). [10]
 
 
 
But it is not just the wrong things that are being preached that is the problem, but it is also what is not being preached that should be preached.  Columnist Owen Anderson writing for Real Clear Wire in a piece syndicated by World Net Daily explains this danger as “a spirit that refuses to name evil, that cannot say when a thing is wrong, and that sees moral clarity as judgmentalism rather than maturity. But to refrain from speaking plainly about sin, especially public sin, is not grace — it is cowardice disguised as compassion. It limits Christians from speaking the Gospel to a world in desperate need…” [11]
 
And in the conclusion of his piece, Anderson also stated:
 
 
 
Christians must not be silenced by the sneers of those who neither know Scripture nor fear God. We are called to love the truth, speak the truth, and — when needed — judge with righteous judgment. Sin leads to death.
 
Because if Christians will not speak clearly about sin and the Gospel, who will? [12]
 
 
 
The reason why the theology and doctrine that is preached in the Church matters and matters a great deal is because souls are at stake; salvation is at stake and it is for the sake of those souls who have yet to repent and for the sake of the souls of them who have come into the faith as well as for the sake of our own souls that it is vitally important the theology and doctrine that is taught and preached is consistent with the teachings of scripture and not only will we be held accountable for what we have adhered to, but we will also be held accountable for what we have preached or haven’t preached but should have preached because we have been entrusted to be bearers of the truth that comes from God and that task requires that we all do the part allotted to each and every one of us to undo the very lies that lead souls away from God and into eternal damnation but how can we do that when we ourselves are deceived by the lies and deception that we have allowed to enter into our midst and poison our own minds and hearts?  Before we can hope to win any souls over to Christ, we must make sure that we ourselves have embraced the Gospel in its purity and that we ourselves are adhering to a pure and sound doctrine that comes from God and not a corrupt doctrine that is the invention of men or a product of demons for as it is written, judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Pet. 4:17) and it was by demons that lies were first introduced into the world led by a certain lying spirit called Lucifer who had once served as a covering cherub at the throne of God until he became lifted up in his pride and tried to make himself equal to God, even thinking that he could have for himself that which belonged to God alone and as a consequence, he and all who had sided with him against God were cast from their positions in Heaven (Is. 14:11-21, Ezek. 28:12-19) and it was at that time that Lucifer had become known as Satan and after having been cast from his position in Heaven, he then, in the form of a serpent, crept into a newly created world in which there was no evil, no death, no decay, and no suffering, but only peace and contentment and in which existed a perfect harmony between God, man, and nature and it was over this world which God had initially given man dominion (Gen. 1:26) and there was nothing withheld from man except for one thing and that was a fruit from a certain tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, having been warned of God that in the day they ate thereof, they would surely die (Gen. 2:16-17, 3:3) but rather than heed the warning that God had given them, they listened to the lies of that spirit of darkness who came to them in the form of a serpent who falsely assured them that if they ate of that forbidden fruit that they would not die as they had been warned but that instead, they would receive wisdom that they had never had before and even become divine in nature (Gen. 3:4-5) and when they had eaten of that forbidden fruit, instead of receiving the wisdom that the serpent told that they would receive, the only knowledge they received was the shame that came upon their nakedness after they had eaten of that forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:7) and instead of attaining a status superior to the one in which they had been created, they fell to an inferior status and the sentence of death of which they were warned was pronounced upon them to which they eventually succumbed (Gen. 3:19) but the sentence of death did not stop with Adam and Eve for it was sin which entered into them that brought death to them and the sin that entered into them and brought to death to them was then passed down to all of mankind because it is from Adam and Eve all mankind descend and because we are all descended from them, we have also inherited from them the very sin that entered into them (Rom. 5:12) and just as they died because of sin, so we all die because of sin; (Rom. 6:23) sin being defined not by just our actions, behavior, conduct, and what we say, but as the inwardly corrupt condition of our nature that not only influences our outward acts and what we say, but also our very thoughts, motives, and the attitude of the heart which is why it is written that we are not defiled from without but from within (Mt. 5:11, 17-20) but the consequences of the transgression that brought sin into the world and death with it did not confine themselves to man, but spread to all of creation which is why it is written that the entire creation groans and travails in pain to this day (Rom. 8:19-22) which is suffering, pain, misery, and hardship of every sort and severity abound in the world today and why creation itself is dying a very slow death.
 
By a lie did Satan become the father of lies (Jn. 8:44) because the lie that he used to lead Adam and Eve into the transgression was the first lie known to man and by that lie he through sin brought death which is why he is also called a murderer (v. 44) and he continues to kill and destroy through sin every day and it is by that lie by which he became the father of lies and a murderer that he diminished the dominion over the earth that had once been given to man (Gen. 1:26) and claimed lordship over the nations, kingdoms, and empires of the earth (Mt. 4:8-9, Lk. 4:6-7) which why he is called the prince of this world (Jn. 12:31, 16:11) and the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn. 10:10) but not only is he a murderer of the body and the destroyer of all things created, but he is also a destroyer of souls because it is also by that lie by which he caused the transgression that he through sin has brought separation between man and God because man who is in sin cannot dwell in the direct presence of a sinless God and a sinless God cannot allow that which is sin into His Kingdom in which there is no sin or else the Kingdom would be as defiled as the earth has been and it was that very lie of Satan that made that age-long war between God and Satan to be a war for the souls of men and if the war for the souls of men began with a lie, then it will be finished and won with truth and the truth by which it will be concluded is that the Lord God Almighty is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)
 
Though God, in His holiness and righteousness, must eventually eliminate all sin and all evil, He is also a God of love and mercy and if judgment be delayed, it is because our Creator takes no pleasure in punishment but in bestowing love and mercy upon all men and in His love He has provided redemption in Jesus Christ our Lord who is the only begotten Son of God (Jn. 3:16) who, being without sin, (2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15) was that offering needed to take away the sins of the world which He did through the shedding of His blood upon the cross on which He was crucified and after having purchased our redemption by His death, He was raised again from the dead so that we by our faith in Him would be justified in Him (Rom. 4:25) so that any calling upon Him for the forgiveness of sins in sincere faith and repentance would be justified before God the Father by Him and in Him (Rom. 10:13) and with the redemption of our souls comes a transformation (2 Cor. 5:17) that causes us to no longer desire to follow after selfish and worldly pursuits but after those things that pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven, (Mt. 6:33)
to no longer take pleasure in those things that are evil and displeasing in the sight of the Lord, but in that which is good, right, and pleasing in His sight,
to no longer desire to walk in the lies of this present world, but only in the truth that comes from Christ Almighty, (Jn. 14:6) no longer placing our hopes in the things of this present world, but looking forward to that new and better world to come, (Rev. 21-22)
to no longer rely on worldly resources, men, or even our own power, abilities, skills, and wisdom for our needs and provision but upon God who is able to meet all of our needs, (Mt. 6:25-33) recognizing that the resources of this world and even the people He brings into our lives are but instruments and vessels through which God meets our needs and that the skills, power, knowledge, and wisdom by which we might acquire our provision are provided and instilled in us by God,
to no longer fear what men can do to us, but rather fearing the God before whom we will have to one day give an account for how we lived our lives, (Mt. 10:28)
to no longer look to corruptible institutions within our society for direction and order in our lives but to God who, by His written Word has given us laws and precepts to be applied to our lives and which serve to produce and maintain an ordered life, and who, by His Holy Spirit which comes to dwell within us upon repentance, establishes in our lives a course and direction in our lives to pursue for His glory,
to no longer seek our own glory but the glory of God,
to no longer rally behind corruptible men, but instead behind the incorruptible God in Heaven bearing in mind that those men and women God raises up for our edification are but instruments and servants of His for that respective purpose to which He has called them,
to no longer seek to align ourselves with the things of darkness but only with the things of the light,
to no longer trust in the wisdom of the world but only on the wisdom and knowledge that comes from above, nor depend on corruptible earthly authorities to swiftly administer justice, but only in the power of God to deliver us from evil.
 
And we look forward to the day that, just as our souls have been redeemed and delivered from eternal damnation, when we shall also be delivered from bodily death when that which is sinful is made sinless and that which is corruptible is transformed into that which is incorruptible (1 Cor. 15:51-55, 1 Thess. 4:13-18) for wherein dwells no sin there is no death and finally, creation itself will also be liberated from the curse that has come upon it because of sin, when Satan who is the adversary of our souls and is that thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn. 10:10) is given his final sentence and cast into eternal damnation along with all who have sided with him (Rev. 20:10-15) and after that, the creation will then be made anew, and it will be a creation in which there will dwell no death, no decay, no evil, no darkness, no grief, no sorrow, and no misery, and no hardship, but only light, life, happiness, peace, contentment, and joy before the Lord God Almighty for all eternity. (Rev. 21-22)
 
If you want to be sure that you are on the side of truth and not on the side of lies, then I urge you reader, if you have not done so already, to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus who is the source of all truth for the forgiveness of sins.  It is but a sincere prayer of repentance away.
 
 
 
"Lord Jesus I need you.
 
 
I realize that I am a sinner
who has fallen short of the glory of God
and that my goodness falls short
of your standard of Moral perfection.
 
Please forgive me of all of my sins.
Come into my heart and into my life
to be the Savior and Lord of my life.
Make me into the servant and follower
that you want me to be.
In your name Lord Jesus, I pray.
 
 
Amen."
 
 
Know that God is not concerned with the words that you use to call upon Him forgiveness, but with the attitude of your heart and if you have, with all sincerity, have asked Christ to forgive you of your sins, placing your trust in Him only for your salvation and in nothing else, then your sins are forgiven and your place in Heaven is certain.
 
 
 
1.  Henry M. Morris, “Beware Of False Teachers,” Institute For Creation Research, republished September 23, 2024
https://www.icr.org/article/14862/
 
2.  Ibid
 
3.  Shadman’s Musings, “Exhortation Against False Teaching,” Shadman’s Musings, June 16, 2024
https://shadmansmusings.wordpress.com/2024/06/16/exhortation-against-false-teaching-col-24-5/
 
4.  Ibid.
 
5.  Ibid.
 
6.  Dr. George Barna, “Release #6: What Does It Mean When People Say They Are “Christian”?, Cultural Research Center; Arizona Christian University, August 31, 2021
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CRC_AWVI2021_Release06_Digital_01_20210831.pdf
 
7.  “Signs of Decline & Hope Among Key Metrics of Faith,” Barna, March 4, 2020
https://www.barna.com/research/changing-state-of-the-church/
 
8.  Josh Shepherd, “Survey Finds Only 9% of Self-Identified Christians Hold to Biblical Worldview,” The Roys Report, September 10, 2021
https://julieroys.com/george-barna-survey-biblical-worldview/
 
9.  Barna, Cultural Research Center, August 31, 2021

10.  Ibid.
 
11.  Dr. George Barna, “Release #5: Shocking Results Concerning the Worldview of Christian Pastors,” Cultural Research Center; Arizona Christian University, May 10, 2022
https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release05_Digital.pdf
 
12.  Owen Anderson; Real Clear Wire; Real Clear Religion, “Can Christians make moral judgments about public behavior?” World Net Daily, July 27, 2025
https://www.wnd.com/2025/07/can-christians-make-moral-judgments-about-public-behavior/?utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=Can_Christians_make_moral&utm_source=izooto
 
13.  Ibid.
 
 
 
Scripture references:
 
 
 
1.  2 Timothy 2:15
 
2.  Acts 17:11
 
3.  Acts 20:29-30
 
4.  1 Thessalonians 5:21
 
5.  2 Timothy 3:16
 
6.  Jude 3
 
7.  1  Peter 4:17
 
8.  Isaiah 14:11-21, Ezekiel 28:12-19
 
9.  Genesis 2:16-17, 3:3
 
10.  Genesis 3:4-5
 
11.  Genesis 3:7
 
12.  Genesis 3:19
 
13.  Romans 5:12
 
14.  Matthew 15:11, 17-20
 
15.  Romans 6:23
 
16.  Romans 8:19-22
 
17.  John 8:44
 
18.  Genesis 1:26
 
19.  Matthew 4:8-9, Luke 4:6-7
 
20.  John 12:31, 16:11
 
21.  John 10:10
 
22.  2 Peter 3:9
 
23.  2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15
 
24.  Hebrews 7:26-27
 
25.  Romans 4:25
 
26.  Romans 10:13
 
27.  John 14:6
 
28.  2 Corinthians 5:17
 
29.  Matthew 6:33
 
30.  Revelation 21-22
 
31.  Matthew 6:25-33
 
32.  Matthew 10:28
 
33.  1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
 
34.  Revelation 20:10-15