Promoting False Doctrine

Jerry W. Joseph


We receive many announcements about gospel meetings, lectureships, workshops, etc., being conducted and asking for our help in promoting such activities. We do not and cannot promote all such activities in the church bulletin, from the pulpit, nor in any other way. It is amazing how some brethren will claim how "sound" they are in the faith, then turn around and advertise and promote in their bulletin a brother who is "unsound" or an event filled with "unsound" speakers.

When we advertise in the bulletin or from the pulpit certain events taking place, we are encouraging others to attend. We are promoting such as "a good thing" to attend. When people say they are not encouraging and promoting an event when they advertise and announce it, they are just fooling themselves.

In February of this year, the elders of the Highland Church of Christ in Memphis invited Rubel Shelly to be one of their speakers on a program for the Christian Student Center. His false teaching is clearly revealed in books and articles he writes as well as by listening to some of his lessons on cassette tape. We are not even going to try to figure out why he was invited to speak in the first place. What we want to emphasize about this is that some congregations who claim to be loyal to the Word advertised and promoted this event in their bulletins and by other means. Something is wrong! When we see advertisements in bulletins, magazines, and other publications promoting events such as the "Tulsa Workshop," "Pepperdine Lectures," or the "Jubilee" in Nashville with its line-up of "who's-who" among liberal teachers, something is wrong. Shame on those who uphold, promote, support, and encourage such activities.

Does Ephesians 5:11 mean anything anymore? "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Some would have us think that 2 John 9-11 has lost its meaning. Is it still wrong to bid God speed to one that "transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ? " YES! YES! To do so is to become "partakers of his evil deeds." Have we forgotten Romans 16:17 where Paul states clearly that we are to "mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them? "

Instead of making excuses trying to justify the use of false teachers, let us "mark them" (Rom. 16:17). In stead of advertising and announcing false teachers and their doctrine, let us "avoid them" (Rom. 16:;17) and "admonish" them (2 Thess. 3:15). Instead of encouraging false teachers, let us "expose them" (Eph. 5:11). Instead of receiving them (2 John 10), let us "restore" them (James 5:19-20). Instead of supporting false teachers, and their doctrine by condoning, rallying around, promoting and upholding them, let us "speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15) so that they may be convicted of sin, repent of sin, push it aside, and be united once again in fellowship with God (1 John 1:6-7).

We cannot support, uphold, condone, encourage, promote (by word of mouth or way of life) that which is false doctrine without becoming guilty ourselves. We must stand always for that which is good (1 Thess. 5:21) and against anything that is detrimental to the cause of Christ. Because of our love for God, for his Word, for the church, for our souls, and the souls of others, let us be ready always to declare, defend and do God's will (1 Peter 3:15; Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Jude 3; Rom. 12:1-2; Titus 2:11-12).

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324 Walnut
Tiptonville, TN 38079
“Seek The Old Paths,” Vol. 7, No. 9

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FALSE TEACHER

Paul Wilmoth


Men desire positive preaching, fair speeches that makes one feel good. Men like to be praised and loved by others. They would rather not offend anyone. They prefer making friends to making enemies. But this is not always possible nor pleasing in the sight of God. The Bible teaches that each of us must be willing to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim. 2:3). We are also warned, "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:4). When the going gets rough we need to remember to "...endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Tim. 2:10). That suffering for Christ is inevitable is clearly seen. Paul states, "Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). If you are not suffering for Christ, then maybe it is because you are not living a godly life!

The church is facing a major departure from the truth today. Most of the congregations in the Cookeville, Tennessee, area are either a part of that digression or are fast becoming a part of it. One false teacher after another is now being paraded into Putnam County and into our city. Preachers and elders encourage their members to attend these meetings. In doing so they are bidding them "God speed" and becoming a "partaker in their evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). How does one recognize a false teacher?

1. One who teaches that one might be saved without doing what God commanded in His word is a false teacher.
   
2. When one teaches that God just might not punish anyone eternally in a devil's hell, is a false teacher.
   
3. When one teaches that women need to have a different role in the church today, he is a false teacher.
   
4. When one teaches that elders have no authority over God's flock, he is a false teacher.
   
5. When one teaches that instrumental music in worship will not cause one to be lost, he is a false teacher.
   
6. When one applies Matthew 18:15-17 to public proclaimers of error, he is a false teacher.
   
7. When one encourages participation and fellowship with denominational bodies, he is a false teacher.
   
8. When one teaches there is more than one reason for divorce and remarriage, he is a false teacher.
   
9. When a man accuses others of taking his plain statements out of context in order to cover up his false teaching, he is a false teacher.
   
10. When a preacher, elder, or editor advertises a gospel meeting of a known heretic, they become partakers of his evil deeds.
    
11. When preachers fellowship those who teach and/or promote false teachers, they also become guilty.
    
12. And the list can go on and on.
    

"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity" (Psalm 94:16)?

P.O. Box 5000
Cookeville, TN 38505
“Seek the Old Paths,” Vol. 10, No. 2

MARKING FALSE TEACHERS

Dan Goddard


"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned; and turn away from them" (Rom. 16:17).

Marking false teachers. The word "mark" means to watch carefully, diligently. If one were in a tower watching the movement of an enemy, he would be marking the enemy (according to the use of this word). Those who are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling are the ones to be marked.

While the word "mark" does not of necessity include the idea of publishing the false teacher, the interest which we have for the church will cause us to do so. Paul knew of certain men who taught false doctrines and he warned others of them so they might be careful (2 Tim. 2:17). So, when one is found to be teaching harmful doctrines, it becomes the duty of him who learns it, to warn others if the false teacher cannot be corrected. But because such public warning may cause some unpleasantness in the church, many refuse to engage in it. These, through pride, have more regard for the good opinion of the community than they have for the purity of the church or the approval of the Lord. Paul says we are to have no fellowship with such, but even reprove them (Eph. 5:11). He who fails to reprove, fails in half his duty to the Lord. Preachers of the gospel and elders of churches cannot escape the responsibility of doing such.

The standard to be used. We are not left to our own opinions as to whom to mark. We are to mark them who are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling contrary to the doctrine of the apostles. Paul says, "if any man obey not our word by this epistle." And, again he says we are to "withdraw from all" who do not walk after the traditions received from him (2 Thess. 3:6,14).

"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13). Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to teach certain men not to teach a different doctrine, nor to give heed to fables (1 Tim. 1:3,4). If man or angel preach anything different from what the apostles preached, he shall be anathema (Gal. 1:8,9). Jesus condemned the Jews of His day for departing from the Law of Moses and doing things not commanded, and commanding others to do likewise (Matt. 15:1-9).

We are to be content to preach what is revealed through inspired apostles. Since they were guided into all truth, it follows that anything more or different from what they preached is no part of the truth. That which is not truth is from the devil, for he is the father of lies (John 8:44). To preach that which is not true is to serve the devil, and all who serve him here will have to spend eternity with him. Hence, the seriousness of failing to preach the truth.

And turn from them. Does this imply concerted church action expressed in withdrawal of fellowship? Or, does it mean for individuals to shun or avoid such characters lest they be contaminated with false teachings? Paul told the Thessalonians to withdraw themselves from all who walk disorderly, and not after the traditions received from him (2 Thess. 3:6). This looks like public condemnation and exclusion from the fellowship of the church. But in another verse he says if any one obeys not his word, "note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (2 Thess. 3:14,15).

Paul says we are to refuse a factious man after proper admonition (Titus 3:10). A factious man is one given to causing dissensions. But this covers more ground than the Greek word which limits it to causing trouble by teaching false doctrine.

From all we can find on the subject it seems that one who teaches false doctrine should: 1) be corrected, if he will take it; 2) be warned to cease his false teaching; 3) be exposed so as to stop him (Titus 1:9-11); and 4) be excluded from the fellowship of the church as a last resort to save him and the church.

False teaching spreads like gangrene (2 Tim. 2:17), so it must not be allowed to continue in the body. Elders have the duty of seeing that it is stopped.

Church discipline is truly in some places the "forgotten commandment."

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29511 Bock St.
Garden City, MI 48135
“Seek The Old Paths,” Vol. 9, No. 2