Today’s Reading: Matthew 7:15 (HCSB)
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
Today’s Question: How do you know if someone in the church fellowship is a false teacher?
Today’s Commentary:
According to the US Secret Service website, there are five visual cues that one could use to identify counterfeit money. This has become a real problem in our country. The US Treasury Department estimates that there is over $600 billion in counterfeit money being circulated. Before reading this statistic, I wondered why the cashiers at Wal-mart always seemed to double and triple check my bills. Maybe I just look the part of one who would try to pass a fake dollar. With the cost of inkjet color cartridges, it would hardly be worth the expense.
There are many problems when it comes to counterfeits. Fake items make us less likely to trust. Out of necessity, we have become a skeptical people. Yet, when the counterfeits are church leaders, we have a much larger problem than a fake bill or a “rolex” watch. We have a crisis.
As Jesus is nearing the conclusion of His Great Sermon, He gives a warning to the people. He again uses the motif of “two” (as He previously talked about 2 gates and 2 roads). Now Jesus presents two kinds of teachers. His focus is upon the false teacher, which He describes as a wolf dressed up as a sheep.
We are too trusting of church leaders initially. When someone comes into our fellowship, we are so excited to add to our number that we give little effort into investigating their motive. This even sounds unkind and intrusive. If the person is outgoing, persuasive, and shows some interest in being a leader, we crown him with the title of “Committee Chair” of whatever ministry which has a need. But we simply are not counting the cost that one “wolf” can do in the midst of one hundred sheep.
By the way, wolves eat sheep. They start with the weaker, smaller lambs on the fringe of the flock. They are less likely to challenge the stronger, more established. This is more of a grassroots effort. The wolf does not need a majority to do his damage. He just needs to strike enough fear into the flock to get it moving toward a treacherous cliff.
Some false teachers today are obvious to spot. These teachers offer the least threat to the church because the spew their blasphemous hatred everywhere they go. When their mouths open, the deceiving work of satan is exposed and reject by the vast majority of Christ’s Church. It is the less vocal and stealthily scheming variety that poses the greatest danger to the church.
How can we spot a false teacher? Here are a few tips:
1. Be in tune with the Holy Spirit. He may speak to you and give you discernment about someone where there is no external evidence.
2. Check the person’s doctrine. Where does he or she stand on the authority of Scripture, the Trinity of God, salvation by faith in Christ alone, and the sin nature of man? False teachers often have deviations on the basics of Christian doctrine. Are we willing to take the time to ask?
3. Speaking of time, do not place those who are newer in the fellowship into leadership positions. This sounds obvious, but out of enthusiasm that we finally have someone who is willing to work in the nursery every Sunday, we may be enlisting a pedophile. Invite newer members into “entry level” positions. This is best for everyone involved.
4. Deal with false teachers in your local fellowship swiftly. I am not suggesting that we do anything mean or dishonoring to Christ. Yet, this is an emergency no less than a fire in the church kitchen. It requires an immediate and appropriate action.
5. Take preventive measures by focusing often on basic Christian doctrine. Even in conservative circles, I have seen a drift in teaching away from doctrine. Plenty of research polls have concluded that Christians are decreasingly convinced of the basic convictions of biblical truth. This is a dangerous place to be for the sheep and an enticing environment for wolves.
It is time for the Church to awaken. Open our eyes with the discernment of the Holy Spirit and we will see clearly the false teachers who seek to destroy the Church. Too much is at stake if a wolf gets into the fellowship. Let him get into leadership, and the flock will experience a devastating blow.
“Follow One, Lead Others” Principle #53: Disciples of Jesus are keenly aware of false teachers, for they rely on the discernment of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s Prayer Point: Pray that church leaders would be aware of those who seek to destroy the Church.
Shepherding Well 