What’s wrong with calling out false teachers by name?

W2L said:

M. Jackson isnt a teacher and i have no desire to follow him. Im referring to teachers. The apostles were not rich. They endured hunger, nakedness and sleepless nights.

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Oh ok, I get it.......It is ok to be rich in general......but not a rich teacher?

RaymondG said:

Oh ok, I get it.......It is ok to be rich in general......but not a rich teacher?

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To quote the apostle Paul: What have i to do with judging those outside the Church? God judges them. Dont we judge those inside the church?

EJ M said:

Hi
In today's PC world, you will get "tension" if you expose a false prophet.
My opinion is lack of calling out false prophets is partly why we are in such a great falling away and why evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
To much ear tickling and not enough rebuking with love.
But both Paul and John did it in the bible.
Even named them, Alexander the copper smith, Demus, Diotrephes,, etc.
First, make sure you are correct, it's not good to spread false rumors and gossip. (Pro 6)
Always go with the direction in Matt 18:15-17, And then you have a duty to warn others about the false prophet.
Read Eze chapter 3 and chapter 33 for further direction on your responsibility.

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Hmmm.

So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church

As I look to those people "called out by name," it seems to me they are criticized for their specific behavior.

Hymenaeus and Alexander are accused of blasphemy, but that's a pretty specific accusation in scripture and isn't really "false teaching."

Paul talks with extremely bitter harshness about Judiazers, but interestingly he doesn't call any of those by name.

W2L said:

To quote the apostle Paul: What have i to do with judging those outside the Church? God judges them. Dont we judge those inside the church?

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But we are talking about teachers right? Only Teachers shouldnt be rich.....the people in the seats can be..... right?

Something else we have to be very careful about in this Internet age:

Nothing can be taken back. There is no such thing as repentance on the Internet.

Once you've said something about someone on the Internet, they may later repent--or you may discover you were wrong and you may repent.

But once it's out there, it's out there for good, and you can't take it back.

RDKirk said:

Something else we have to be very careful about in this Internet age:

Nothing can be taken back. There is no such thing as repentance on the Internet.

Once you've said something about someone on the Internet, they may later repent--or you may discover you were wrong and you may repent.

But once it's out there, it's out there for good, and you can't take it back.

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we can delete comments...........

RaymondG said:

But we are talking about teachers right? Only Teachers shouldnt be rich.....the people in the seats can be..... right?

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First off, we are supposed to follow the apostles example. Secondly, where is our love when we choose a mansion over people? Is that love, is is discernment as well? Not in my book.

W2L said:

First off, we are supposed to follow the apostles example. Secondly, where is our love when we choose a mansion over people?

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Just trying to understand you....you said you were talking about teachers......now you seem to have expanded. I just explained how mansions help people, some of whom cannot get normal on the books jobs. Landscapers, chefs, maid services, live in nanny's, small businesses etc.....will all be out of jobs and possibly homeless and hungry if we are followed your advise...

You dont employ these people, and you are telling all Christians not to employ them as well....so that we can help them..... ?

RaymondG said:

Just trying to understand you....you said you were talking about teachers......now you seem to have expanded. I just explained how mansions help people, some of whom cannot get normal on the books jobs. Landscapers, chefs, maid services, live in nanny's, small businesses etc.....will all be out of jobs and possibly homeless and hungry if we are followed your advise...

You dont employ these people, and you are telling all Christians not to employ them as well....so that we can help them..... ?

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These teachers lack discernment. Look at the apostle Paul, he did everything so his ministry would not be discredited. He didnt buy mansions by selling books. His teaching was free!

The Church can easily help these people as they should, but that doesnt excuse the excess of these preachers nor their utter lack of discernment.

RaymondG said:

we can delete comments...........

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Those deletions are only on one or two servers. The longer it's out there, the more servers of the Internet it gets replicated into. If anyone else has copied it or shared it, it's already gotten beyond your ability to delete.

It can always be found somewhere and brought back to light.

I can find on the Internet today comments I made on privately owned bulletin boards back in the 80s.

According to world hunger statistics, 3.1 Million children under 5 years old die each year of malnutrition. Thats just the ones under 5 years old. Meanwhile these preachers live the lifestyle of the rich and famous.



Some 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life. That's about one in nine people on earth.

The vast majority of the world's hungry people live in developing countries, where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished.

Asia is the continent with the most hungry people - two thirds of the total. The percentage in southern Asia has fallen in recent years but in western Asia it has increased slightly.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence (percentage of population) of hunger. One person in four there is undernourished.

Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of deaths in children under five - 3.1 million children each year.

One out of six children -- roughly 100 million -- in developing countries is underweight.
One in four of the world's children are stunted. In developing countries the proportion can rise to one in three.

66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.
WFP calculates that US$3.2 billion is needed per year to reach all 66 million hungry school-age children.

OK ... Martin Luther

Ashley755 said:

Hello,

There just seems to be tension surrounding the whole thing. But why? If someone is misleading the church, why shouldn’t we call them out by name? I don’t know if I really get it.

Thanks guys.

God bless.

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It is the right thing to do and the Bible tells us to call out false teachers. It is not a wrong thing to do.

1Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Ashley755 said:

Yes, I think you make a point. Certainly, there are some who might have spoken something against the word of God with the best of intentions in spite. I know I’ve made mistakes in ministry before. I guess I am low-key referring the “prosperity gospel” or “word of faith” kind of stuff, that goes against what the Scriptures actually say. These are absolutely wrong. But you’re right, I think. We probably should be careful about who we accuse of false teaching/preaching based on the reasons you listed. And if someone is wrong, but has the right intentions, I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t acknowlege both of those things when speaking about them.

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Yes, I think we often forget to make such an allowance when speaking against a point of view. None of us who are "born again" believers are perfect (though have a perfect standing in Christ), and we may mistakenly state something ---possibly in a un-perfect state (there is a difference). It is good to gently point that out to a brother or sister in the Lord. Keep looking up as we press on!

Self proclaimed 'prophets' are different. If a persons 'teacher' is also a self proclaimed 'Prophet' then it is virtually impossible to explain anything to followers productively without 'naming' such and such 'prophet'.

If a person claims, or accepts, the 'prophet' title they are no longer suggesting they are simply a teacher but are speaking as 'the Word of The Lord'. I have been witnessing/debating to hundreds of members of controversial groups and religions. And most often all the doctrine is interpreted by the 'prophet' - so a plain bible reading and understanding may no longer work with the 'follower'.

I truly 'try' my hardest to practice grace and diplomacy in my debating and discussions. I believe the art of friendly intellectual challenge is the best way to educate ourselves, and keeping discussions 'disciplined and friendly' is where true Christianity lives and grows.

That said, it is OK to explain a doctrine, as something that 'comes from specific teachers' (for example; correct me if I'm wrong, but this 'seems' to be taught by so and so teacher). I try my hardest to 'avoid' naming a teacher if at all possible, because a follower generally' feels an 'emotional attachment' to a teacher or prophet (and thus it becomes an emotional argument rather than factual).

Hi Ashley.... this is how I see it. Whats the gospel? I mean the GOSPEL? Jesus came in the flesh.. was born of Mary died on the cross for the worlds sins. Was buried. Rose the 3rd day and is seated at the right hand of the Father. <----this is the GOOD NEWS "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"

I was reading on this forum one day.. when Oral Roberts was alive. They were going on and on about something he said. That had the tape (tells you the age lol) the paper so forth. What got me was.. Oral Roberts was not there. NOT TO BOAST...but me being no one.. went to the man him self and asked.. wow it was NOTHING like they said.

I just reply to some that were going on about ...some rich preachers. I SEE HEAR what they see and hear. But.. they live in the USA...and have a Church. One USE to say he is gone now...would say "if I get it wrong.. tell me.. I will repent and get it right" <-----that what I just said..when they TALKED about him ALWAYS left that part out. Like some of the RICH preachers... If I said what I KNOW... you would say.. I NEVER read that about them. Yeah.. no one adds it in. All the GOOD they have and do..do.

And then.. MOST have no right to speak. Sorry..just saying JESUS as lord does not give us the right. To many walk in there own sins.. and unless .. I get my life in order.. who am I to tell them that HE called to that office. Ask that person calling out the error.. how long have you PRAYED about it? That right there.. you find MOST never take days weeks months to pray about it...

And.. what if it was there BEST friend.. spouse.. we treat them different.. Going to POST about your spouse you kids are you? NO WAY! Yet in GODS eyes...those in error are MORE Family then flesh and blood.. I mean the ones that believe the gospel and are in error.

So... I treat others how I would like to me... I have NOT TO BOAST...to another great name...all would know.. I am NO ONE yet if I being no one can go to them.. and talk.. ANYONE can. So I would want you to come to me.. blood of JESUS and pray.. you WANT to help them.. you love them so much.. ...if its just to focus on how bad or in error they are.. thats not Christ.. sorry.. for Him its ALWAYS to help to lift up to bring them BACK...ALWAYS to help..

So.. I write them.. talk to them.... if they dont listen.. I NEVER post it for the world to see.. to get someone I KNOW is strong in the faith.. I will ask them to agree with me and pray for them... its how I want to be treated.. whats your reason.. your HEART? Did yous see the ERROR 1st? Is that how Christ sees you? He does not judge you nor condemn you. HE ALWAYS sees the good 1st. Remember they NEVER sin against us.. against you and only you do I sin and do this evil in your sight David wrote.

Sometimes.. the Father will let you see something.. to pray.. to get others to pray.. that our enemy is trying to attack them... with lies what ever... and to pray FOR THEM. ALWAYS treat others how you want to be treated...and remember those BELONG to a GOD..saying JESUS is lord.. PRAISE GOD but.. that does NOT give us a right to judge to condemn... the 12 could...they WALKED in what they preach..they prayed 24/7.. always. They LOVED them ...