Who among this list is a false teacher

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

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I have heard good things about all of them.

Having said that - doctrine being true or false - is not based on "who likes it" or "Who teaches it" - but rather based on what the Bible says about it.

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah

Could someone help?

Click to expand...

These are all well respected theologians, and RC Sproul and Billy Graham, memory eternal, are well loved, indeed almost universally so in the case of Billy Graham.

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

Click to expand...

This list of people seems to exist within one spectrum of interpretation.

The help that comes to me is that these people do not write scripture, so you should not rely on their guidance too much. If you read scripture on a regular basis, then pray more instead of seeking advice of experts.

I disagree fiercely with some of the beliefs of a couple of people on that list, but I wouldn't label any of them as "apostate" or a "false teacher". As far as I can tell, they all intend to be following Jesus and to be preaching the message of Jesus as best as they understand it. Where I disagree with them, I would prefer to label them as "a Christian with whom I disagree" or "a Christian who is mistaken about some things".

If at one point you thought they were correct, and now you have come to disagree with them, I don't think there's any need for repentance. Simply acknowledge that you have changed your mind in light of new information, and be grateful for the opportunity to have learned new things.

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

Click to expand...

This is against the forum guidelines, it's divisive, and unwise.

Do they act like ravenous wolves?
Seeking after what you have? your hard-earned income?
Tithing is compulsory?
Those who are after money are false teachers.

Blaise N said:

My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent?

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What's the advice you accepted?

Blaise N said:

and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent?

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"But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master: Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no [man] your father upon the Earth: for one is your Father, which is in Heaven. Neither be ye called teachers, for one is your Teacher: Christ." (Matthew 23:8-10)

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." (John 10:1-13)

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, one shepherd." (John 10:16)

Blaise N said:

It’s not my intention to cause divisions whatsoever.I’m asking because I’m very keen on avoiding false teachers

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Nonetheless calling public figures false, or soliciting others to do so is divisive and against the guidelines.

Is it too hard to ask for names of some good teachers instead?

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

Click to expand...

I'm not convinced it is helpful. None of those people are false in everything that they preach and teach. I don't agree with everything that I know that they've said. Hey, I could be wrong too. Often, it's a matter of interpretation of a scripture. False teaching is when what is said directly contradicts God's word.

For example, a supposed prophet takes one verse out of context and states that the Holy Spirit is Lord. This is obviously false when you look at the rest of the New Testament. I wrote to his church to query that false statement but I received no reply.

One of the above states that divorced people are sinning if they remarry - under any circumstances. This I believe is a wrong emphasis and punishes the innocent. I do not believe that God punishes someone for the sins of another.

You need only to compare the teaching with the Word of God and in the light of God's character. You also need to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to the meaning of God's word. God does not demand perfect understanding from us. We all rely to some extent on our own interpretations. It's not how it should be, but that is the truth. It's God's job to teach us. He will correct us in due time, if we are willing to accept correction.

I am divorced. I was bombarded with a range of "advice", ranging from going to hell if I remarried (I have not) to, no big deal, it is not the unpardonable sin.

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

Click to expand...

Sure. They are all false teachers, as is everyone who says anything other than reciting the Bible. The reality is that all humans are inextricably tainted with sin such that even our best efforts fall vastly short of the perfection of Truth that is God. Every time anybody ventures an interpretation or opinion that is not clearly stated in the Bible, they run the probability of error and thus become a false teacher. James warned teachers about this very problem in his letter.

In absolute fact, what I just wrote above is, in all probability, untrue. But, then, I am not the judge of the matter, am I?

Blaise N said:

The thing is,with me,I desire deeper understanding since I have Autism and I most of the time can’t read or understand things like emotions, implications, and certain questions.I know very clearly who to absolutely avoid at all costs such as Kenneth Copeland,Pat Robertson,and Joel osteen.

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Please take my advice and read the Bible, trusting God for understanding. If you put your trust in any teacher, then you will ultimately be disappointed and find errors.

bbbbbbb said:

Please take my advice and read the Bible, trusting God for understanding. If you put your trust in any teacher, then you will ultimately be disappointed and find errors.

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Yes and no. God has appointed teachers to the body of Christ. Some Christians have appointed themselves. Some started off OK then ended up in error, often because of an overemphasis on a particular doctrine. Prosperity preaching is in that category. It started as a counter to the "poverty is a good thing" message promoted by many. A lot of Christians suffered much because of this. But the opposite, that all Christians should be mega rich is false. And that is confirmed by Bible.

We have the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth and God's written word as a "fact check". For example, there is a teaching going around that the Holy Spirit is Lord, based on one verse in the Bible. That teaching is false. Anyone who knows the Bible will reject it, because we know that Jesus is Lord.

So we need to heed teachers, but also weigh their words and ensure that they are not distorting truth for their own ends or because they've gone astray.

Aussie Pete said:

Yes and no. God has appointed teachers to the body of Christ. Some Christians have appointed themselves. Some started off OK then ended up in error, often because of an overemphasis on a particular doctrine. Prosperity preaching is in that category. It started as a counter to the "poverty is a good thing" message promoted by many. A lot of Christians suffered much because of this. But the opposite, that all Christians should be mega rich is false. And that is confirmed by Bible.

We have the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth and God's written word as a "fact check". For example, there is a teaching going around that the Holy Spirit is Lord, based on one verse in the Bible. That teaching is false. Anyone who knows the Bible will reject it, because we know that Jesus is Lord.

So we need to heed teachers, but also weigh their words and ensure that they are not distorting truth for their own ends or because they've gone astray.

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Quite true. The means by which we can discern falsehood from truth is the Bible, the Word of God. Thus, it is essential that a believer be deeply engaged in knowing the Word in order to sort out good from bad teachers. We must be like the Bereans - searching the Word daily to see if these things are true.

Blaise N said:

Hi everyone,

I’d like to ask the community a theological question.So I remember in scripture it speaks of apostasy in two different ways,it speaks of the variant where someone abandons faith and the other is falling away into believing false teachers,gospels,and pastors

Now for awhile now I’ve read advice from many sources,but I occasionally come across some accusing others of false teachings and what not.Some calling out others on their teachings.My main concern and worry is that I may have committed apostasy by accepting advice from a false teacher.and my concern is can someone who previously followed a false teacher repent? Here is a list of people in question:

-John MacArthur
-John Piper
-RC Sproul
-Billy Graham
-James Dobson
-David Jeremiah


Could someone help?

Click to expand...

none of those guy are false teacher, in the sense that they are not christian, they may be wrong on a point here or there but not inherently false

iLearn said:

Do they act like ravenous wolves?
Seeking after what you have? your hard-earned income?
Tithing is compulsory?
Those who are after money are false teachers.

Click to expand...

would have to disagree here. asking for money is not or tithing is not the sign of a false teacher. sounds like you do not know the generousity of God.

Blaise N said:

The thing is,with me,I desire deeper understanding since I have Autism and I most of the time can’t read or understand things like emotions, implications, and certain questions.I know very clearly who to absolutely avoid at all costs such as Kenneth Copeland,Pat Robertson,and Joel osteen.

Click to expand...

Do you not have a church/congregation to which you belong and which teaches from the Bible?

The idea of shopping around among a list of TV preachers and trying to decide between what's said by one of them on any given day and what's said by another in a different telecast seems guaranteed to cause anxiety.