How to Identify a False Teacher
Is what they teach found in the Bible?
I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! (Galatians 1:6-9)
Anything that is taught that is contrary to the Bible is false and we must avoid.
Do they add any requirements to follow that are not found in the Bible?
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
Anything that is required of you to do or not do that is not found in the Bible is false and should be avoided. This is also known as legalism. Popular false teachers here are Jim Staley (Hebrew Roots Movement), KJV onlyism.
Do they teach God’s grace is free and you do need to repent or cannot sin?
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (Jude 4)
Anytime someone says that God’s love outweighs His wrath teaches contrary to Scriptures and we must avoid. This is also known as hyper-grace. Popular false teachers here are Andrew Wommack, Joseph Prince and Todd White.
Do they beg for money and claim your giving results in health and wealth now?
Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.(2 Peter 2:2-3)
Anyone claiming your donations to them directly result in temporal health a/or wealth and appear to reveal greed must be avoided. This is also known as prosperity gospel. Popular false teachers here are Kenneth Copeland, Rod Parsley, Joel Osteen, Robert Morris, Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer.
Do they preach every message to focus on you instead of Jesus?
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. (John 5:39-40)
Anyone who takes the Bible and twists it to try to have you focus on yourself instead of Jesus Himself must be avoided. This is also known as narcigesis or the narcissistic interpretation of Scripture where it becomes all about yourself. Exegesis is the explanation of a text based on the text itself. Eisegesis is taking a text and making it say whatever I want it to say. Popular teachers here are Steven Furtick, Jentezen Franklin, Brian Houston and David Hughes.
Do they allow a woman to preach or have authority over men in church?
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:12-14)
Anyone woman who assumes this role or any church/denomination that allows this role contradicts where the Bible insists that this role is for men only (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9). This is also known as egalitarianism. The Biblical view known as complementarianism is the belief that men and women are equal in value and worth but have been given different roles. Popular false teachers teachers here are Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Rick Warren and Steven Furtick.
Do they let unrepented sinners be leaders or live in unrepented sin themselves?
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Timothy 5:19-21)
Anyone who has fallen into persistent and unrepented sin cannot lead in the church since they must be “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2’ cf. Titus 1:6-7). Popular false teachers here are Mark Driscoll, Greg Locke, John Gray and Ed Litton.
Do they regard their personal experiences more important than Scripture?
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21)
Peter, who saw the glorified Christ at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1- 9, Mark 9:1 – 10, Luke 9:27-36) but insisted that God’s Word to us in the Scripture is reliable and we should pay attention to it. Those who say they speak for or have been spoken to directly by God often stray from what He has already said in His Word. It is often said, “If you want to hear God’s audible voice, read His Word out loud.” Popular false teachers here are Steven Furtick, TD Jakes, Mike Bikel and Bill Johnson.