There are plenty of false doctrines in Christianity. One false doctrine is Christians must tithe 10% of their income to the church. This falsehood has been repeated so often that millions of believers accept it as truth. So, how do you recognize a false doctrine? There are many signs, but a few include proof-texting, charismatic leadership, superficial teachings, arrogant teachers, and warnings from the Holy Spirit.
Table of Contents
- Deception in the Church Today
- 1. Text Without Context
- 2. Style Over Substance
- 3. No Strong Meat
- 4. Prideful Teachers
- 5. The Holy Spirit Warns You
- Recap
- Outsmart the Prosperity Gospel Preachers
Deception in the Church Today
What is a false doctrine? In Christianity, it’s a doctrine that doesn’t align with what’s taught in the Bible. A doctrine is a set of beliefs individuals adhere to and live by. It shapes a person’s worldview, how they see themselves, and how they see others. If proven untrue, a doctrine can shatter an individual’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and/or physical well-being. This is why false doctrines are dangerous.
1. Text Without Context
A false doctrine often relies on proof-texting for support. Proof-texting involves taking verses out of the context of a passage or chapter. The proof-texting method ignores the importance of cultural, historical, and literary context. There’s little attention given to the meaning and intent of the Scripture.
2. Style Over Substance
Individuals teaching false doctrines are often very charismatic. There’s nothing wrong with having charisma. It’s just that many people are enticed by how a person preaches that they don’t pay attention to what’s being preached. Charismatic false teachers can preach with so much confidence, authority, and conviction that it’s easy to assume they’re speaking the truth (Romans 16:18).
3. No Strong Meat
A false doctrine may appeal to the sensual nature of the believer. In other words, false teachers tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. A false doctrine plays it “safe” so the people in the pews aren’t offended. After all, an angry congregation is less likely to pay so-called tithes and offerings (Titus 1:10-11).
An example of a sensual doctrine is the Prosperity Gospel. How it’s been taught amounts to what some call a Christian lottery or a religious get-rich-quick scheme.
4. Prideful Teachers
False teachers dismiss criticism. When their doctrine is challenged, they hide behind the Scriptures. They label criticism as a satanic attack or turn to verses such as “touch, not my anointed.” They are full of pride and arrogance and believe they’re above correction. In some cases, they believe that what they’re teaching is true.
I heard a pastor say this years ago about a well-known Prosperity Gospel preacher: “You can be sincere and sincerely wrong.”
5. The Holy Spirit Warns You
There’s an element of truth in many false doctrines. This draws people in because the Spirit bears witness to the truth (John 16:13). So, we are naturally drawn to the truth. The problem with false doctrines is they have elements that aren’t true.
For example, the Bible commands the payment of tithes. The falsehood is this command applies to New Testament Christians. The truth is the command was only for the ancient Hebrews. So, it is false to teach that Christians must tithe.
The good news is the Holy Spirit alerts us to what isn’t true. It warns you when something (or someone) isn’t right.
Here’s an example:
God assigned me to write a book about tithes in the early 2000s. The only thing I knew about the tithe was that it meant 10%. Around this time, I listened to many Christian preachers on TV and radio. The dominant message I kept hearing is Christians must tithe.
The Holy Spirit told me something wasn’t right about these teachings. I didn’t know what wasn’t right, so I researched the topic. What I discovered was one false teaching after the other about the tithe. My co-author and I compiled this research into The Tithing Hoax book, which exposes and corrects these false teachings.
Recap
How do you identify false doctrines? Whether it’s the Tithe Doctrine or another teaching, there are some telltale signs to look for. While this is not a complete list, knowing these signs can help you avoid the snare of false teachers (2 Peter 3:17).
One, false doctrines often rely on proof-texting for validation. This method of reading or studying the Bible takes Scriptures out of context to provide “evidence” that the doctrine is true.
Two, false teachers rely heavily on their charismatic personalities or oratorical skills. They often have dynamic presentations, so believers are captivated by how they preach. A false teacher’s ability to sway an audience overshadows doctrinal errors.
Three, a false doctrine caters to what believers want to hear, not what they need to hear. These doctrines typically shy away from any topic that challenges believers, promotes moral standards, or makes Christians uncomfortable.
Four, false teachers are often prideful. They even view constructive criticism as a satanic attack and feel above correction.
Finally, false doctrines typically include some truth. However, this truth is shrouded in lies, half-truths, and biblical misinterpretations. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can identify these false doctrines. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth and recognizes falsehoods.
Outsmart the Prosperity Gospel Preachers
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