(Last Names Starting with “M”)
“They’re a sorry bunch–pseudo-apostles, lying preachers, crooked workers–posing as Christ’s agents but sham to the core. And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light. So it shouldn’t surprise us when his servants masquerade as servants of God. But they’re not getting by with anything. They’ll pay for it in the end”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15 MSG).
What is a false teacher and how does one qualify for this list?
False teachers are those who presume to teach in their own authority (as did the scribes), often in the Name of the Lord, when He has not sent them. Though they have knowledge of Biblical truths, they are, at best, in delusion, presuming to turn others to the Kingdom of God when, in fact, they are building the corrupt kingdoms of men. At worst, they are deliberate charlatans, seeking to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy, using Biblical truths to do so.
A teacher I follow is not listed here. Does that mean they aren't false?
This list is not meant to be an exhaustive one. What is important is that one learns to discern truth from error.
“Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:18 MKJV).
No person rightfully takes upon himself the role of a teacher or any other ministry of God without God’s power and authority. In a world full of teachers, preachers, elders, deacons, speakers, writers, evangelists, pastors, prophets, and apostles, rare are the true ministers representing the Lord Jesus Christ. Many are the false, and very few the true, even as in Noah’s day.
I heard the truth for the first time from a teacher listed here on this site. How is that?
Though false teachers lead astray, the Biblical truths they teach can lead to Christ those whom God has called and is choosing. The truth quickens those being given the gift of faith. However, faith manifest in the one who receives the truth does not certify as God’s representative the one who speaks some truth. The child of faith who walks in obedience to Christ will soon enough part ways with those who mix truth with error.
This is God’s commandment:
“Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 MKJV).
How can a teacher be false when they teach true things found in the Bible?
False teachers mix the holy things of God with their carnal thoughts, creating a false form of godliness. They can’t do otherwise, because they haven’t taken up the cross and submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness. They are still in their sin nature, living unto themselves, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.
And because false teachers haven’t submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness, they can’t lead others there. A false teacher is one who may speak truth, yet points his hearers in another direction.
An example of this would be that of a “Tijuana taxi,” or any predator of tourists who says, “Yes, I know exactly where such-and-such a place is, and I’ll take you there. On the way, I’ll tell you all you want to know about it. Please, get in.”
Guess what? He gets you there after a half-hour drive, but didn’t tell you it was only a block away from where you began with him. Meanwhile he charges you for the time or mileage.
And though he filled you in on what the place is all about, what he doesn’t, can’t, and won’t tell you is that you need a membership to enter. He drops you off at the gate, and you find out your trip was for naught.
Isn’t that just like the churches and spiritual leaders one encounters in a multiplicity of places and forms? They have truth, and they may even get you into the wedding feast, but never with a wedding garment.
Therefore, while the truth spoken is to be believed (no matter who speaks it or what affiliation the speaker may have), false teachers are not to be followed. Teachers sent of God are to be followed, as with the example given by the apostle Paul, who said by the Spirit, “Become followers of me, even as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). A false teacher leads into the emptiness of self-righteousness and death, but a true teacher leads to the fullness of Christ and life.
After reading what's written here, I still can't determine if the teacher I follow is true or false. Is there anything else I can read that may help?
See also
Diabolical Doctrines,
The True Marks of a Cult, and
Teachings. Indeed, our entire website will help you to forsake the error and to walk in the path of truth.
(Click on the links below for a short summary of each teacher along with a link to their listing.)
MacArthur, John
Was the apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh a betrayal by the Corinthians, as John MacArthur surmises? No, it wasn’t; so why is John projecting his personal opinions on the Bible and teaching them as the Word of God? He does so because he doesn’t have the Spirit of God, yet presumes to lead others by his carnal knowledge and interpretations. John doesn’t know the Lord Jesus Christ or understand His ways. He therefore can’t lead others into God’s Kingdom.
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False Teacher – John MacArthurMaison, Perry
Ministers of Christ never come asking for money, even implicitly or by indirect means. The children of this world who appear as ministers of Christ invariably do, because they depend on man and not on God. They cloak their covetousness behind the needs of others, whom they advertise and promote as the recipients of their “godly” attention and your money. In this narrative, see how one spider catches three others in its money web, for evil, and how the Lord catches all of them for the fire, for good.
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False Teachers – Razia Boota, Perry Maison, Evan Wiggs, and David ServantMalkmus, George
In this letter Victor addresses the blatant contradictions against the Word of God and His personal promises and integrity, which George presents in his diet book.
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The Hallelujah Diet – An Unholy MixtureManning, James David
“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of Him Who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood” (John 7:18 ESV). Even if the one who speaks on his own authority says refreshing and delightful true things, that one also has falsehood because he seeks his own glory. That's the case with James Manning, an entertaining preacher who seeks an earthly kingdom, not having known the Heavenly one that comes through the cross and seeking the glory of God.
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False Teacher – James David ManningMartin, Walter
Here’s an example of one who prided himself on his supposed knowledge and expertise in the things of God, using it to charge others with wrongdoing he was guilty of himself. This is hypocrisy of the worst sort, because it drags God’s Name through the mud.
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False Teacher – Walter MartinMaxwell, Jordan
“A messy man doing messy things – It’s Messy Maxwell.” Those are Jordan Maxwell’s words, not ours. We’ll say this about his attempt at a clever marketing slogan: Mr. Maxwell says some true things about the heathen mythologies and notions permeating mainstream religions, but in the “mess” he creates, he entirely overlooks the Pearl of Great Price, Who is the Reason for all that exists.
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False Teacher – Jordan MaxwellMcCartney, Bill
What is wrong with joining together with others who profess Christ and mutually promise to commit themselves to doing good? In the sight of God, everything. Let us show you why and how.
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Promise KeepersMcDonald, Garry
This trio of false teachers from Australia present Christianity as one happy way to get whatever you want in life. You deserve it and you can do it – just follow their examples of positive confession guided by avaricious worldliness. And God forbid, don’t take seriously what the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles teach and exemplify by their lives. Behold the anti-Christ in all his glory before men, and shame before God.
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False Teachers – Rodney Gilchrist, Brian Houston, & Garry McDonaldMcGhee, Geri
How self-confident and presumptuous are those men and women who think they’re serving God in ministries they’ve made up to glorify themselves! Woe to them, and woe to those who follow them!
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False Teacher – Geri McGheeMcLaren, Brian
The “emerging church” movement follows the lead of the collapsing culture of the late 20th century, discarding invariable truths and precepts of God for the self-serving subjectivity of man. Brian McLaren is one of the movement’s preeminent leaders, and we show how this “new” church movement is just another brand of false Christianity, supplanting faith with anti-Christ philosophy honoring false gods such as Allah and denying the Lord Jesus Christ.
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False Teacher – Brian McLarenMcPherson, Aimee
Did the Lord put women in spiritual authority over men, or was that someone else's idea? What is the example and teaching of the servants of God? Aimee Semple McPherson came against God's order and teaching, pursued her own agenda, and, as with so many others, leads many astray in her deception even to this day.
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False Teacher – Aimee McPhersonMcQuate, Scott
Are you feeling bored and insignificant? “Dr.” McQuate extends a limited-time invitation to join his inner circle of initiates in the “scintillating and crucial last days information” that will make you feel special. It will also keep you from the faith of Christ, as with all Satan's offers, which is why we post this warning.
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False Teacher – Scott McQuateMeaning of 'Worm' and 'Fire', Hell
Merola, Maria
Maria Merola styles herself a “watchman” appointed by God to deliver Jewish and Gentile believers from false Christian doctrines and nourish them in the truth. She calls her ministry “Double Portion Inheritance,” an empty claim and blasphemous title – in itself exposing a deluded and self-important woman. Those who agree and promote her whorish ways, such as the Grays, suffer the destruction of idolatry and spiritual fornication.
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False Teacher – Maria Merola & Daryl and Natalia GrayMirasi, Kevin
Here we have a self-appointed and acclaimed prophet who, not knowing the Lord Jesus Christ, models himself after David Owuor by promoting prophecies that incite fear and titillate with false hope in a phony rapture and “Jesus.” Satan is amused as the na?ve and deluded follow him into destruction.
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False Teacher – Kevin MirasiMissler, Chuck
Many say one can't judge whether another believer, particularly one presenting him or herself as a teacher of God, is of God. Poppycock! Of course they can be discerned – and must be. Should your spiritual welfare be entrusted to a liar? God forbid. Jesus said you WILL know them by their fruits.
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False Teacher – Chuck MisslerMunroe, Myles
Satan is the master persuader, not because he lies outright, but because his lies are hidden in the truth. He provides those whose hearts aren’t wedded to the truth opportunity to justify doing their own thing while appearing to do the right thing. In this correspondence, Myles Munroe gives his satanic pitch for a form of godliness that denies God’s Power and Authority.
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False Teacher – Myles MunroeMurdock, Mike
Is the wisdom of God for sale? Mike Murdock would have you believe so, and he is just the man to sell it to you. But when has anyone ever seen that arrangement in the Scriptures? Did Jesus Christ, the Head of all true believers and Wisdom Incarnate, behave that way? Let’s consult with God, not with man, on His way of giving us His gifts.
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False Teacher – Mike MurdockMurray, Andrew
There is not a more horrible sight to Heaven than men trying to appear heavenly. It is the arrogance of men who say in their hearts, ‘I will be as God,’ whereas Jesus Christ is God saying, ‘I will become a man.’ Christ comes to consume those who consume Him, thereby making them one with God according to His will and doing. Thus is Jesus’ saying fulfilled: ‘Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28-30 MKJV).
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False Teacher – Andrew MurrayMurray, Arnold
How can one minister spiritual health without the Physician, the One Who heals us? Yet that’s what this self-proclaimed doctor and pastor, Arnold Murray, was doing by ministering in his own strength and righteousness, teaching his thoughts as the Word of God. “Let God be true but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4 EMTV). For “verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Psalms 39:5 KJV).
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False Teacher – Arnold Murray