“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.)
Abrahams, Sondra
Those who come across the nicest and most sincere are often the most deluded. Beware of those who speak loftily of God’s love and don’t adhere to His laws or ways, no matter how convincing their spiritual stories. “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head…” (Colossians 2:18-19 ESV).
Read False Teacher – Sondra Abrahams
Read False Teacher – Sondra Abrahams
Adeboye, Enoch
We expose a passel of primped and pompous preachers from Nigeria, each one looking to be bigger and better than the next, not knowing they represent the anti-Christ in their presumptuousness. They have nothing whatsoever to do with the Lord Jesus Christ, except to take His Name in vain.
Read False Teachers – Enoch Adeboye, T.B. Joshua, W.F. Kumuyi, Lazarus Muoka, Daniel Olukoya, Ayo Oritsejafor, Chris Oyakhilome, David Oyedepo
Read False Teachers – Enoch Adeboye, T.B. Joshua, W.F. Kumuyi, Lazarus Muoka, Daniel Olukoya, Ayo Oritsejafor, Chris Oyakhilome, David Oyedepo
Aivanhov, Mikhael
One in a long line of teachers of the “god within.” Paul responds to a woman promoting the practice of realizing the inner “Christ” without submission to the One without, the Real One from Whom man is separated by his sins.
Read False Teacher – Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Read False Teacher – Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Akintunde, Yinka
We are attacked by a wannabe false prophet for listing and exposing his Nigerian religious scamster brethren, whose fame and fortune he hopes to achieve for himself. This prolific liar deflects answering for his outrageous lies by redoubling his accusations. This is the modus operandi of his father, the Devil, whose motto is: ‘The best defense is going on the offensive.’ This is Satan at his best (or worst), who is no match for the Word that exposes him in the Light.
Read False Teacher – Yinka Akintunde
Read False Teacher – Yinka Akintunde
Albiston, John
This is the story of a run-of-the-mill religious hireling who encountered extraordinary circumstances in his formative stages. Years ago, his reaction to running across a man of God set the stage for this posting and fulfillment of the Lord’s words: “Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29 MKJV).
Read False Teacher – John Albiston
Read False Teacher – John Albiston
Allen, A.A
Much can be said about a spiritual teacher by knowing who his mentor is. A disciple of the Dalai Lama teaches his variety of Buddhism, and the disciple of a counterfeit Christian teaches his brand of counterfeit Christianity. Where do you expect that will take you? “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:18 MKJV).
Read False Teachers – A.A. Allen & R.W. Schambach
Read False Teachers – A.A. Allen & R.W. Schambach
Alley, John
If your pastor is following a false apostle, where does that leave you? “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14 MKJV). So what if the apostle is a “nice” man? Doesn’t Satan transform himself into an angel of light? Stay out of dark alleys in the first place – walk in the light as Christ is in the light.
Read False Teacher – John Alley
Read False Teacher – John Alley
Amirault, Gary
Gary dismisses out of hand any straightforward declaration in the Name of the Lord, calling such “arrogant.” How can this be? How can one who relies on the Scriptures for truth, which came through men declaring, “Thus says the Lord,” deny that God speaks to humanity through men? Yet multitudes of religious are snared in this trap.
Read False Teacher – Gary Amirault
Read False Teacher – Gary Amirault
Appel, Gene
Men will let anyone join their churches, enticing them any way they can. Not so in the City of God: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and that they may enter the City by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:14-15 ESV).
Read False Teacher – Gene Appel
Read False Teacher – Gene Appel
Ardagh, Arjguna
How can one attain or enter into an enlightened state of oneness without the Light of all men, in Whom alone life exists? Here is an example of preaching that says you can lift yourself by your own bootstraps without really trying. We are our own gods, and can create Heaven on earth by thinking so. There is no such thing as sin or an adversarial nature within to contend with, you just need to hang loose, have fun, don’t take yourself too seriously, and you will save the world. Not.
Read False Teacher – Arjuna Ardagh
Read False Teacher – Arjuna Ardagh
Ardagh, Arjuna, Translucence
False Teacher Exposed on The Path of Truth – Arjuna Ardagh – Translucents
Read False Teacher – Arjuna Ardagh: “Translucence”
Read False Teacher – Arjuna Ardagh: “Translucence”
Arguinzoni, Sonny
Join yourself to the works of men and you’ll receive the destructive fruits of following man rather than God. Man will ultimately disappoint you, but you only have yourself to blame, because you attached yourself to him for what he could do for you instead of seeking God for what He requires of you for your salvation through His Son.
Read False Teacher – Sonny Arguinzoni
Read False Teacher – Sonny Arguinzoni
Armstrong, Herbert
It is predictable that the spirit and works of Herbert W. Armstrong would spawn someone like Ronald Weinland, a man making many bold claims in the delusion that he is God’s last prophet and one of His two witnesses. Armstrong behaved similarly and the Law of God says that like produces like. The Lord Almighty says to those snared in such works, “Come out from the midst of them and be separated…Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 EMTV). In this paper we differentiate between the clean and unclean, what is of the Father and what is of men.
Read False Teacher – Ronald Weinland
Read False Teacher – Ronald Weinland
Arnott, John & Carol
“But evil men and seducers will go forward to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13 MKJV). All manias end with a blow-off phase where all sense is abandoned, because people are given over to their lusts entirely. So we know that we are nearing the end of evil men and seducers when they laugh like devils and call that the worship of God.
Read The Bottom of the Barrel
Read The Bottom of the Barrel
Austin-Sparks, Theodore
While Jesus spoke in parables and Paul taught some things hard to understand, false teachers like Austin-Sparks speak in soaring terms that impress men and inspire the religious, who are deceived. Those who seek the truth may be temporarily confused, but the Lord will keep and deliver those whose hearts are pure. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 EMTV).
Read False Teacher – Theodore Austin-Sparks
Read False Teacher – Theodore Austin-Sparks