It also shows us what the church leaders believe about God and our purpose in life. If you visit their YouTube channel and sort their videos by most popular, their most-watched video is titled Your Porn Battle Plan. The sermon is exactly what youd expect it to be, and its encouraging to see that a church is willing to speak bluntly to a major problem. (Interestingly, theres zero mention of personality, charisma, or speaking ability in any of the Pastoral Epistles.). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. Those who take this more compartmentalized approach often assume that right doctrine will inevitably lead to right practice. Any believer who "correctly handles the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. The purifying fire of Gods judgment is for our good. Thats because messing up only matters when the emphasis is on ourselves and how it affects our lives. However, this discussion is important because Life.Church isnt just a local church, but a church continually creating a global outreach. Heres a basic example of how people are told to repent of their sin and trust in Christ for salvation (if the video doesnt automatically begin there, its at the 29:40 mark): The number of hands raised or comments written in the chat give Life.Church a sense that so many new Christians are being redeemed by Christ. My Experiences with False Teachers. We begin by acknowledging not just the possibility of false teaching, but the certainty of it. Elizabeth Prata of The End Time reveals yet another reason to leave Lysa. Set your standards high. I wasnt comfortable with using their request prayer feature on the website just to see what would happen, but I imagine someone on the other end truly does pray for the requests that are sent in. However, theres much more to a church and its leaders than whether people have the capacity to be saved there. One strength of the evangelical movement in the US has been an emphasis on orthodoxy, or right doctrine. However, its exciting to hear, and people are drawn to the idea that they can have everything their greedy hearts desire if they just believe hard enough. Life.Church, likewise, makes promises for God that He hasnt made. The personality on the screen cant shepherd a flock three states away, the local pastors dont fulfill a primary function of teaching, and the church that isnt the pastors primary location becomes more like a franchise than a local church. Yes, the New Testament speaks of false teachers whose doctrine denies core elements of the apostolic gospel. Life.Church was listed on Newsmax's "top 50 megachurches of America", with approximately 100,000 people attending weekly. What we might find surprising both from Jesus and his apostles is how revealing the everyday lives of false teachers are about their falseness. And those who do are worth his entire church mocking right alongside him. The Doctrine Of Annihilation. Although a single church doesnt always line up with every part of their denomination, its worth pointing out that ECC takes a clear stance on integrating racial reconciliation into the church (read about ECC and Racial Righteousness). (See the red flags for the gospel presentation from the perspective of someone who doesnt understand sin or Christs atonement). A false teacher who teaches the false doctrine that you can't be holy do so because they haven't yet experienced the new birth that comes with genuine salvation that brings about the new nature of Christ in a believer to enable them to live a holy life that's free from sin. One of the phrases on their website is No matter who you are or where youve been, youre welcome here. From what Ive seen, they stick by this. [ This article is also available in Worse still, many will spend years in Life.Church with no idea that they arent truly saved by Jesus Christ. But in this scenario, Jesus is our means to an end. It places us in the spotlight, and as a result, people are regularly told that sin simply keeps them from realizing ultimate happiness, with little-to-no mention of how our sin positions us against the holiness of God. They defile the flesh, reject authority, and participate in deeds of ungodliness (vv. I dont mean for the label to sound sarcastic by saying I think. Their website and online chat have numerous ways for people to request prayer. ( Romans 1:25) For example, most religions have not taught their followers God's name. Historically, Groeschel has also supported false teachers like Steven Furtick and Joel Osteen. (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Pay attention to the teacher's ethical and moral behavior. My hope is that the church might get better at assessing corrupt practices that qualify a leader as a false teacher, even if that person espouses all the recognizable elements of Christian orthodoxy. A Christian blog and podcast by Ray Burns. In fact, its the one area in the Bible where God tells you to test Him. At least partly due to this history, some evangelicals have embraced false or oversimplified assumptions about the connection between the two. If someone fails to provide for the needs of his household, he has denied the faith (1 Tim 5:8). (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." ~Colossians 2:8. Practically speaking, there are several steps to guarding your kids from false teaching: Identify the false teaching and messages through lots of open conversations. Our leaders need to be held accountable, and not held in such high esteem that we give them a pass on the normal Christian life. Life.Church isnt blunt or manipulative enough to create a red flag with this (since trusting God does mean obeying the Holy Spirit in our giving), but theres an undertone of Prosperity Theology with how many examples of lacking faith include not giving money to the church. Posted By Marsha West on September 5, 2016 in Discernment, False Teacher Alert, Women and the Church 13. Weve all tried to think our way out of bad habits and unhealthy thought patterns, only to find ourselves stuck with an out-of-control mind and off-track daily life. One of the most damaging things in Christianity is easy believism. Its an approach to the gospel that tells people that if they just pray a prayer, theyll be saved. If one reads the writings of the early church fathers and the documents of the church councils it becomes obvious . Watching a sermon online or chatting on a website may give a sense of community, but not being part of a local body makes the bolded sections of text nearly impossible. Consider the ways Groeschel lacks the basic discernment and maturity necessary for a pastor: Im not questioning whether Groeschel is a Christian, nor am I saying that he is a false teacher, because I dont think theres clear evidence for either accusation. Sensuality, which typically means sexual sin verse 2: many will follow their sensuality (also verses 10, 1214, and 19). But how exactly do we use the label false teacher for those who deny Christ and lead people astray with their lives? On the one hand, it seems so obvious. For further reading, 9Marks has an excellent breakdown of 22 problems with multi-site churches. But that is a lie. They take Christs call to make disciples as a call to treat the church like a business. If pressed, the only way I can make sense of this is that their website is available to anyone, and talking about a literal Hell may be off-putting or offensive to newcomers, whereas a full sermon allows them to fully explain their position. Life.Church wants people to be who God has called them to be. His charismatic, emotion-driven speaking style has made him popular among many. He also believes that the Bible is Gods word. Jesus Christ Isn't The Only Way. In the early twentieth century, many churches left off preaching the cross of Christ and replaced it with "doing good to their fellow man.". Certainly, when we consider someones pattern of life as part of what potentially qualifies them as a false teacher, then leadership assessment gets very messy very quickly. Tithing is an Old Testament demand on Israel that isnt in effect today (because we arent Israel). Here is a list of of the more obvious heretics/false teachers to be marked & avoided: (not exhaustive) Angley, Ernest [Word of Faith] Armstrong, Karen [Progressive] Arnott, John [leader Toronto "Blessing", Latter Rain] Bakker, Jamie [Emergent Church] Bakker, Jay [Emergent Church, neo-liberal] Bakker, Jim [Prosperity Theology] Basically, what this teaching promotes is the belief that you simply have to believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and you're already saved! This is the idea that because we're saved, we can do whatever we want and God's okay with it. However, Groeschel clearly understands it. As Jesus says, False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. However, much of what I encountered made the Bible a guest in the sermon, rather than being the star. Exposing Charismatic False Teacher, Jack Hayford Posted by Marsha West May 1, 2021 In Opinion Charismaticism, Church, Ecumenism, False Doctrine, False Gospel, False Teacher, Mysticism, New Apostolic Reformation, Pentecostalism, Purpose Drivenism, Roman Catholicism, Foster Richard, Warren Rick Bookmark permalink God calls us to give the first 10% of our income back to Him. But this is not the only way to deny Christ. ,and The greatest defense against false teaching is a local church community that knows, enjoys, and lives the word of God and holds its leaders accountable. Ioannes Apiarius - The Orthodox Church is being attacked by false teachers and deceitful venues that question, challenge, mock, deconstruct, contradict, and distort Church teaching, practices, and theology. Notice the quoted text. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Fresh Life Church is an egalitarian church. And now, like millions of Christians worldwide, I have everlasting life through my faith in Him (John 3:36; 6:47). If we dont have access to their personal lives, or their doctrinal compromises havent yet been manifest publicly in their behavior, we may find it difficult to know whether they are true. The ultimate goal of this is simply to get people to say yes and pray a prayer. The reason this is a huge issue right now is that many churches have temporarily begun moving many of their regular "in person" activities to livestream, YouTube, Zoom, Skype, etc., due to COVID restrictions that prevent members from gathering together easily. He even has a popular book called Winning the War In Your Mind. Heres the summary from Amazon (emphasis mine): Are your thoughts out of controljust like your life? False Gospel 2: The Gospel of Social Justice. They will be known by their fruit not the fruit of ministry quantity and numbers, but quality and endurance and ultimately the quality of their own lives. But in the end, the wages of messing up is death doesnt really make sense. I dont discount Gods sovereignty in saving His people no matter how bad we may fumble things. Life.Church seems to recognize this and takes good steps to make people feel seen and free to ask questions or join in the discussions. 1) Rick Warren's Purpose Driven movement offers a Broad Way Christianity. Yet Life.Church is more than just a fluffy, come-as-you-are church with motivational sermons. However, shying away from a stance on Hell for sake of approachability or gaining favor is problematic on its own. The only reason this isnt a red flag is that the stories (usually) drive people to understand biblical truth. For a pastor who leads Gods people, its completely unacceptable. They promise it. Fundamentally, orthopraxy and orthodoxy are inseparable. The church wants its members invested and part of the church outside beyond just the weekly service. It has nothing to do with who we are in Christ, but instead who we can be because of Christ. Illustration by Mallory Rentsch / Source Images: Sindre Strm / Pexels. Many churches, whether innocently or manipulatively, tell people that God demands 10% of their income. We should not be surprised to find false teaching in the church today. (2 Corinthians 9:7). You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Yet they had been denying Christ and leading people astray with their actions long before their failures were publicly known. It comes as no surprise that God warns us many times in Scripture to be aware of false teaching. A typical sermon would begin with a long and entertaining story, the speaker would then read some verses, then launch into more stories or share experiences about what this passage can mean. Everything we do is focused on how it benefits us. [emphasis mine]. The things they say, do, and believe are outright dangerous. Because of their poor exegetical understanding of Malachi 3:10, they are bold enough to promise that God will bless those who give 10% of their income to the church. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So the red flag isnt that they dont believe in Gods wrath against sin, but that thousands of people have asked Jesus to save them, and those without a background in Christian-ese likely accepted a false gospel of self-help and positive thinking, which is not a saving gospel at all. . In the 20+ sermons I listened to, I dont think a single one ended without the gospel. Its using His name in any way that is disrespectful, false, or misleading. If the fruit of someone's life or ministry is not in keeping with the fruit of the spirit, he has denied the gospel. Despite the unstructured nature of evangelicalism, its leaders, churches, and institutions have long sought to teach and worship rightly. History serves as a helpful reference point. We arent called to just grow personally, but to grow together. The Doctrine Of Limited Atonement. However, the idea of mandatory tithing is deeply entrenched in Christian tradition. False Teacher - Craig Groeschel The Prettified Gates of Hell Satan, by his gospel, offers an ample entranceway through which you, and all you have, can enter. Sin is never specifically explained in the majority of sermons unless the sermon topic is about a very specific sin (porn, anger, etc). From their church beliefs (emphasis mine): People were created to exist forever. Perhaps, if pressed, the various speakers would better clarify their statements. Jesus speaks about hell as does the closing chapters of . Real Christians never miss a church service.". False Doctrine 4 - The Sabbath Day Abolished. However, with everything discussed about how Life.Church presents Christianity and the gospel, the vast majority of these people are likely just saying yes to anything that promises to make them feel better. We can boil it down to three essential categories and all three are about character and conduct, not teaching: Pride, or defying authority (verse 10) verse 1: they deny the Master who bought them (also verses 1213 and 18). This is best done by regularly going through an entire book of the Bible so that the pastor and his congregation can better see and understand the entire context. Theres a vast difference between being neglectful during one sermon and having a formulaic gospel presentation that purposely ignores the wrath of God against our sin. Basically, the conflict between biblical truth and false teaching is a battle over what "source" (authority) is to be trusted. Craig Groeschels wife, Amy, is even called Pastor Amy on their own website. . These pastor-teachers confessed Christ with their mouths but denied him with their bodies. Emily Hunter McGowin is an assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College. False teachings today! Indeed, if the church is going to do the work of discerning true teachers from falseand I think we shouldthen were called to do so in a way faithful to the examples of Christ and his apostles. What may begin as mere whispers in a private room will soon enough be proclaimed from the housetops (Luke 12:3). This is made evident in books of the Bible such as Acts, Colossians, and 2 Timothy, to name a few. Churches also find that having them in community with older members and answering their whys help them stay in the church. In this post, we'll examine a few of the false assumptions held by many in the visible church. ( Romans 10:13, 14) Some religious leaders say that when something terrible happens, it is God's will. And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. But I should do it anyway. They go together. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock (Matt. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. The sermons may bring out a simple spiritual truth, but the delivery is often so light and motivational that any relevance to God can be easily dismissed. If their goal is to reach certain numbers, or see a certain growth percentage, then they need to not only frequently gauge the success of the gospel by what analytics say, but they must also have the agility to pivot and change tactics when something isnt working. Standing guilty before a holy God whose wrath is on us because of our willful law-breaking is immeasurably beyond just messing up.. Craig Groeschel - Exposing His False Teachings Craig is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Life.Church with 32 Life.Church campuses, but started his ministry in the United Methodist Church according to Wikipedia. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" ( 1 Tim. Although their poor interpretation of Malachi 3:10s relevance is troubling (this command was to the nation of Israel, as was its connected promise), the extreme they take this to is blasphemous. Groeschel is famous for integrating secular psychology into his teaching. Shepherds should smell like sheep, because they live and walk among the sheep, and are not sequestered from the flock. He doesnt need to be mindful of things like the historical context, the original audience, word meanings, or any of that other exegetical, verse-by-verse stuff that helps us understand why things are said. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (see also Luke 6:4344). Is regularly giving money to support our local church biblical? The Holy Spirit helps us be the best version of ourselves. In brief, a false teacher publicly denies something true about God and Christ and preys on the weak with greed and sensuality (Jude 4; 2 Pet 2:1-3; 2 Tim 3:6; Rom 16:18). Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 2 Timothy 3:16 sets the pace for how, and why, we treasure Gods word. Pastors should be with the people. Psychology is based on the interpretations and understandings of people whose worldview is anti-God. 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). They justified their stance with verses from the Old Testament, such as "bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause" ( Isaiah 1:17) and . False teachers never say, "hey, I am a false teacher." Jesus calls them wolves in sheep's clothing. But there are also instances when false teaching is equated with behavior, practice, or a way of life. Life.Church frequently fails to live up to both of these, and as a result, faces problems in many other ways. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Groeschels heart is for his people. The answer, based solely on the gospel presentations Ive heard, is I have no idea. And if someone were to attend Life.Church with no background in Christianity, they would likewise have no idea. In his head, he might have what many consider to be the right doctrinal content. There are a few key ways to spot a false teacher. Why, then, for so long was he able to avoid being denounced as a false teacher? In their greed, they fleece the flock for material gain. Its clear that Groeschel gets part of his worldview from secular psychology, which emphasizes the basic goodness of people while minimizing their wickedness. 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