The Bible warns us that spiritual deception will increase in the last days in preparation for the eventual arrival of the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-11). Jesus Himself warned people of the inevitability that many false teachers will arise who will propagate false doctrines and perform false signs and miracles (Matthew 24:24-25), (Matthew 7:15). False doctrines have a dangerous and life altering effect on people. When you accept false doctrine it can be likened to accepting a disease in your life. The disease infects you and it begins to methodically and slowly weaken and destroy your body if the disease is not removed. In the same way, false doctrines subtly infect the spiritual life of a person and are methodically capable of leading to a person’s spiritual destruction. Such examples of false teachings that are popular in this age are the prosperity gospel, spiritual covering / shepherding doctrines, seed-faith teachings, antinomianism / hyper-grace, the word of faith teachings , New Apostolic Reformation teachings and many more. Many false teachers especially within developing countries are also in the habit of deceiving followers through the selling of “anointing oil” and various “anointed” objects for cash. False doctrines not only affect an individual, but false doctrines can affect entire generations and masses of people at the same time.
THE DANGERS OF FALSE DOCTRINES / TEACHINGS
The consequences or dangers of false doctrines are as follows:
1. False Doctrines Cause Followers to Submit to Spiritually Blind Leaders False teachers are themselves both deceived and blind. They are deceived and in the process they are deceiving others. Jesus spoke of the blind leading the blind in Matthew 15:14 by saying “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit”. Therefore both the false teacher and his followers will fall into the same pit. Jesus is thereby warning that false doctrines are capable of leading both the false teacher and his followers to destruction in hell.
2. False Doctrines Cause Followers to Obey the Teachings of Men Instead of the Doctrines of God False doctrines will always oppose the word of God and cause people to disobey God’s values and principles. Matthew 15:1-3 says Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? Therefore you will discover that various religious groups, cults or false teachers might put their own group traditions & beliefs above the authority of the scriptures.
3. False Doctrines Create Hypocrisy and a Counterfeit Christianity When followers who profess to be Christians have a culture of disobedience against the word of God because of their false doctrines, this type of culture ultimately leads to hypocrisy. Jesus says the following to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:7-9 : “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” The Pharisees were hypocritical teachers who only honored God with their words. However by their actions, the false teachers considered their own doctrines & traditions as being better than God’s commandments through their lifestyle and conduct. They reflected their hypocrisy by twisting scriptures and coercing their followers into obeying the traditions of men rather than God (Matthew 15:3-7).
4. False Doctrines Lead to People Becoming Followers of Men Instead of Followers of God People who obey false doctrines are ultimately followers of men and not followers of Christ. Victims of false doctrines and teachings tend to have more of an adoration of men or their leaders rather than Jesus Christ. Acts 5:29 says: But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 20:29-30 says: I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. By using deceptive teachings or deceptive words, false teachers ultimately encourage their followers to be loyal to them above their loyalty towards God or towards His word. We learn in Matthew 15:1-9 that Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and some of their false teachings. Jesus also exposes the fact that the Pharisees were not teaching their followers to obey the scriptures but they were teaching their followers to obey their own personal man-made traditions and twisted interpretations of the scriptures. Hence blind men were leading blind men instead of blind men following God. Colossians 2:8 says that we should be cautious about receiving philosophies of men and evil spirits – or any principles which oppose the teachings of Christ.
5. False Doctrines Lead to Spiritual Bondage and Legalism Galatians 2:4-5 says Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. The Christian life is not meant to bring people into a life of spiritual bondage but instead when you are in Christ you are set free from bondage and you have liberty in Christ. Galatians was written by the apostle Paul because the churches of that region were facing a theological crisis pertaining to the gospel. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by human works was being denied by the Judaizers. The Judaizers were legalistic Jews who falsely taught that salvation was by human works or obeying the Mosaic law rather than by faith alone in Christ. Paul therefore wrote Galatians in order to set the record straight that salvation is a free gift received by grace through faith in Christ alone and not by our own works or human effort (Galatians 2:21). We therefore consistently see through many of the epistles which Paul wrote that false gospels and doctrines were being spread during Paul’s lifetime & ministry. Therefore in many of his epistles, Paul himself had to consistently correct and warn his readers pertaining to the existence and rise of false teachings.
6. False Doctrines Lead to Devotion to the Teachings of Demons 1 Timothy 4:1-2 says Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, The Bible is clear that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against evil forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12).Therefore it’s important to understand that false doctrines are teachings which have been inspired by demonic spirits who ultimately report to Satan. In other words, every false doctrine or false gospel that opposes the scriptures – especially the essential Christian doctrines is most certainly demonically inspired. 1 John 4:1 says: 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. Why does 1 John 4:1 link the testing of spirits to the existence of false prophets? It’s because false prophets and false teachers are mostly inspired by demonic spirits whether these teachers are aware of it or not. Therefore their false teachings are also inspired by evil spirits. The Bible itself and all its scriptures was inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and God used men. Therefore the devil himself will inspire false teachings to oppose God’s word and he will use men whose consciences are seared to spread false doctrines.
7. False Doctrines Create A Counterfeit Christ or a False Concept of the Biblical God 2 Corinthians 11:4 says: For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. False doctrines are able to create a differentJesus than the actual Jesus that is mentioned in the Bible. For example there are false doctrines that deny the deity of Jesus Christ. These doctrines claim that Jesus is not God and that Jesus was only a man. There are also some false doctrines where Jesus is not seen as the ultimate Mediator between God and man. These doctrines have false teachers and cult leaders who claim that it is they who either mediate or co-mediate on behalf of their followers before God. Yet the Bible is clear in many verses of scripture that Jesus is God and that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). There are also false doctrines that falsely teach that God exists to give you any material possession that you can desire because Christ died for such a purpose. Other false doctrines teach that you can buy or earn the favour, the gifts and the blessings of God with money or by the amount of money that you donate or “seed”. These kind of doctrines and many others do not speak of the Biblical Jesus or the God of the Bible. These false doctrines speak of another Jesus. Therefore while false teachers may read from the Bible and mention the name “Jesus” in their teachings, their false teachings do not represent the true Biblical character and nature of Jesus Christ. Hence false teachers will present a different Jesus by misinterpreting and twisting the actual meaning and context of various Scriptures. Popular false doctrines and teachings that are taught today such as the prosperity gospel, spiritual covering / shepherding doctrines, seed-faith teachings, antinomianism / hyper-grace, the word of faith theology and New Apostolic Reformation teachings and many more, all create a false concept of Jesus Christ and the true character of God. They propagate a false gospel and another Jesus instead of the Biblical Christ. These false doctrines and others tend to diminish and distort the authentic nature and character of Christ. Therefore following a counterfeit Jesus results in counterfeit Christians which then results in a counterfeit Christianity. Jesus said “not everyone who says “Lord! Lord!” will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”When we read Matthew 7:21-23 we learn the tragedy that there are those who presume they will enter heaven but they will end up in hell simply because they lived hypocritical lives. They lived a counterfeit Christianity.
8. False Doctrines Encourage Sin, Pride and Rebellion False doctrines do not lead people to Christ nor do they lead to authentic Christian living. Instead false teachings will energize the flesh and encourage the desire to sin or rebel. False doctrines will also encourage a spirit of pride and arrogance rather than Christ-like humility. 2 Timothy 2:16-18 says that false teachings not only lead to “empty chatter” but it also leads to ungodliness and is capable of spreading like a disease. When you read Titus 1:10-11 it says that false teaching leads to: a) Rebellion or insubordination against God b) Empty talk or mischievous conversations c) Deceptive or manipulative behavior d) Upsetting or division of families In verse 11 it says that the motive of some of these false teachers is that “they teach for shameful gain what they ought not to teach”. This means that false teachers teach false doctrines for their own personal gain even if they know that they are sinning and rebelling against God. The result of continuous rebellion is that false doctrines eventually leads to both false teachers and their followers having a seared conscience. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 connects false doctrines to having a seared conscience because of people devoting themselves to teachings of demons.
9. False Doctrines Give False Teachers Abusive Control Over Their Followers This happens especially within religious cults or groups that exhibit high control behaviour. False teachers and cult leaderstend to twist scriptures to enable themselves to intimately control, manipulate and spiritually abuse their deceived followers. 1 Peter 5:3 says that the church leader should not lord over or be domineering towards his followers but he should be an example to the flock. In Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus gives His disciples the template for Christian leadership. He basically mentions that Christian leadership is when: 1. the leader becomes the servant 2. the leader serves the flock and not himself 3. the leader imitates Christ’s leadership style Another name for Christ’s leadership style is Servant Leadership. However false teachers will teach false doctrines that cause their followers to fear them, idolize them and follow them without exercising any critical spiritual thinking. Many false teachers have caused divorces, separated families, sexually abused members and destroyed lives because of the application of false doctrines upon blind followers.
Conclusion The Bible consistently warns believers to beware of false prophets and false doctrines. They key to avoid being deceived is to seek a sincere relationship with God and to imitate the example of the Bereans who studied and verified the scriptures for themselves irrespective of who preached it (Acts 17:11). For example, even though Paul was an apostle of Christ, the Bereans would fact-check Paul’s message by going back to the Scriptures to see if what Paul had preached was really true. In this age of deception, this is the kind of Christian that is needed: a Christian who tests the spirits and diligently studies and rightly interprets the word of God. It is necessary that as we grow in our walk with God that we avoid a culture of being spiritually spoon-fed, but instead we grow into a culture of personally studying and obeying God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15-19). False teachings and doctrines lead people to hell rather than to eternal life with Christ. They encourage idolatry by creating a false concept of the true nature of God so that people are deceived into worshiping a false god and a false christ. It is therefore necessary that the truth be preached and the deception exposed because the spiritual lives of people are at stake.
False Religion
First, rejecting the true God, the modern West has embraced the gods of the nations and hence a false immanentistic religion. There is no “prophetic vision” of the triune God as the LORD GOD (Yahweh-Elohim)—the immanent and yet transcendent God, carrying out his eternal counsels in time-space history; as self-existent and self-revealing (Ex 3), calling forth the end from the beginning, electing and calling whom he wills; as “the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Tim 1:17); as Sovereign Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Governor, and Judge of the entire cosmos, of all things visible and invisible (Col 1:15-23). As Joe Boot has written: “Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom all men are subject, under whose law all men are held to account (both king and commoner), and by whose gospel alone men can find redemption and restoration”.
He is instead a pygmy God of our own imagination. Rather than a God to be feared he is our best buddy and heavenly therapist, an equal; a domesticated god who endorses my personal autonomy and guarantees my personal peace and affluence, who empowers me to “live my life”. And yet, remains very piously, “my personal Saviour”!
Reiterating the Fall, over the last 300 years the church (followed by the culture) has stepped out from under the commanding law-word of God. She instead stands over it in judgement, determining for herself what is true (aka medieval scholasticism and modern neo-orthodoxy). Like our first parents, autonomous-man now stands supreme, his own ultimate reference point; indeed his own would-be god. Humanism prevails in both church and culture.
A False Priesthood
Second, in rejecting the true God the West finds itself without a teaching priest. With autonomous-man as his own would-be god, the cult of therapy has overtaken the Christian ministry. Pastors are viewed as therapists rather than as teachers of God’s law-word that commands obedience (2 Tim 3:16-17). We have forsaken the apostolic goal of Christian ministry: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col 1:28). The Christian minister warns and teaches to one end—maturity. This was the burden of the writer to the Hebrews when he declares: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits” (Heb 6:1–3).
Ministers as teaching elders are not Dr Feelgoods or people-carers. Rather they are shepherds of the flock who must give an account to the Chief-Shepherd for their stewardship. For this reason God’s law-word must be applied to all four covenantal spheres, not limited to but progressing from the individual, to the family, the church, and the state. In this way the Kingdom of God leavens the whole lump (Mt 13), progressively advancing as the internal integrity of each sphere leads to external integration with the next. Each sphere sacrifices on the altar of the next. In this way no sphere violates or usurps the sovereignty of another. Each is sovereign under the authority of God’s Word, which defines and delimits their functions. And so the Kingdom comes, not by revolution but by gradual transformation. As with the OT church, so today: “Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land” (Ex 23:30).
A False Doctrine
Third, as a result of forsaking the true God for autonomous-man and the subversion of the Christian ministry to the cult of therapy we have invented anthropocentric false doctrines as a parody of the true gospel. Serving a false religion, false teachers must concoct false doctrines. And so we have truncated the gospel to serve human autonomy and the cult of therapy, to massage man’s ego into a false piety. This manifests in such false doctrines as Deism which predicates god as an absentee landlord; as the Creator but not as Sustainer. Having wound up the clock – i.e. the world – he now stands back to watch it run down. Man is hence free to control his world. This then morphs into such teachings as Open Theism, that God is not in control and the future is still open, to be determined by man. It also manifests in Arminianism and Pelagianism, teaching that man determines his own salvation in place of the biblical doctrines of grace (e.g. sovereign election, total inability, the 5 solas etc.). And above all it manifests in Dualism, the separation and hierarchy of spirit over matter, and of the sacred over the secular. This robs the gospel of Christ’s lordship over all things. It expels Christianity from the public square under the false rubric of the separation of church and state, of the sacred and the secular, resulting in such false teachings as The Two Kingdoms, which posits that God’s inscripturated law is for the church but not for the world; they are two separate kingdoms, one ruled by God’s law, the other by man’s law. This then overlaps with the false teachings of Antinomianism and Marcionism, that the OT was a dispensation of law and the NT one of grace, positing a false antithesis between law and gospel. The twain shall never meet! And so, to undermine the true God and his law-word, false gods require false teachers and doctrines. They especially undermine the comprehensive application of biblical law to all of life.
In these ways “his satanic majesty” has contrived to rob the gospel of its power to save to the uttermost, to redeem the totality of God’s creation, and hence govern nations and build a Christian civilisation. Through these false teachings the gospel’s potency as a comprehensive world-and-life-view was lost and the church’s prophetic voice to the political sphere halted.
We must therefore recover the unity of Scripture in both the Law of God and the Gospel of God. They are not antithetical. Together, they are rather the thesis—indeed, the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:20). Hence, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). The gospel without the law is a false spirituality, and undeniably an abomination to God: “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination” (Prov 28:9). Law and Gospel is the entire counsel of God for man, not only individually but also corporately for society. As John Wycliff first penned in 1384, some 400 years before the American constitution: “The Bible is for the government of the people, by the people and for the people”.
Summary conclusion
In summary, we have set up a false religion of autonomous-man. Every false god demands a false priesthood and false teachings to promote its worship. These teachings will inevitably promote the laws of that god. It has been said that when a nation changes its god it changes its law. This captures well the current cultural crisis. With the loss of biblical orthodoxy in the church and the Christian consensus in the culture, we have jettisoned biblical law. With its antinomian beliefs the church has led the way for the world to reject the law of God in all its moral and civil applicability. Nevertheless, society does not function without law, it will enact somebody’s law. The options are simple: either God’s or man’s. One is absolute and transcendent, the other is arbitrary and totally immanentistic. Either man is set free by obedience to the one true God or he is imprisoned by the power state within a closed materialistic system, beyond which there is no appeal.
These then are the core issues to do business with if we are to see the increase of God’s government in the earth. At the turn of the Millennium I wrote that 1950 to 2025 was a hinge of history. And on this hinge would swing a door into a new epoch. We are currently seeing a brazen attempt by the spiritual and cultural powers of darkness to establish a dystopian global governance that vehemently rejects the West’s Christian history. Nevertheless, God has installed his King on Zion and holds them in derision (Ps 2). It is he who governs history and through sometimes difficult times advances his church to fill the earth with the new humanity.
As you read through these seven dangers that could be facing your church, don’t forget that God is with us, God is for us, and God guides us through his Word.
1. Loveless Orthodoxy
The church in Ephesus battled false teachers and their false doctrines. By the time we get to Revelation 2, though, the Ephesian church had righted its doctrinal ship. Sadly, in their battle for doctrinal purity, they forgot about love. Right doctrine and right church practices, while important, do not in and of themselves make a church a healthy community or a faithful witness. As Paul reminds us, if we do not have love we are “a noisy gong or clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Is your church in danger of fighting for doctrinal purity apart from love?
2. Fear of Suffering
Persecution is the world’s rage against God’s king (Jesus), and Christians always get caught up in it. However, it’s easy to forget or overlook the fact that God permits Christian suffering for his glory and our good. We must learn to endure all things, safe in the confidence that we will be conformed to the image of Christ. However, there’s a real danger that instead, we will do our best to avoid suffering and live a comfortable Christian life. If we do this, we’ll miss out on God’s refining work in us.
3. Compromise
In this hostile world, the temptation to compromise our biblical convictions in order to “fit in” is strong. When our faith is challenged, will we continue to believe that Jesus’ words are true and good, or will we turn to the words of someone else? We must not compromise on the truth. Is your church in danger of having its faith chipped away whether by the opinions of society around them or through false teaching?
4. Tolerance
In the name of “love,” the church is tempted to not address sin and not practice church discipline. Love, after all, “is patient.” So, when it comes to speaking the hard truths of the Bible to those we love, we are far too often willing to tolerate sin. Could this be true of your church?
5. A Good Reputation
Even in these dangerous times, though, some churches still appear to flourish. They have “good reputations” in their communities. Consequently, they may be tempted to think they’re OK, healthy, out of danger from the world’s rage. When we’re tempted to trust in our “good name,” we must ask ourselves, “Do we care more about what people think of us or about doing and saying necessary hard things in love?” Too many churches have chased name recognition, but not cherished the gospel. What about yours?
6. Self-Doubt
The majority of churches in the world, though, are not large. They’re quite small and unimpressive in the world’s eyes. If you’re tempted to compare your church to “other” churches of “good name” and large influence, you will be in danger of becoming discouraged because of a lack of visible success. We must continually remind ourselves that God values our faithfulness to him. He looks at our hearts, not the size of our congregations, the number of baptisms, or the amount of our budgets. Don’t be discouraged! Remain faithful!
7. Self-Sufficiency
Sadly, in many cases, today’s church is no different than the world. Just like the world, we depend on our ingenuity, wealth, and resources. Our affluence so easily deceive us into believing we don’t need anyone else, not even God. We’re in danger of relying on our prosperity. When we do, we will stop relying on the risen Christ for everything we need. Who or what is your church relying on?
How your church is doing?
We are all weak in some (or lots of) ways, but we have a mighty saviour who cherishes us, graciously warns us of pitfalls, and who has won the ultimate victory on our behalf. You see, in Revelation 2-3, Jesus not only exposes these seven dangers facing the church, he also provides the answer: look to the risen Christ and long for his return.
The next portion of the letter relates particularly to the situation at Colosse. The apostle addresses straightforwardly and combatively the false teaching being promulgated there. The two major claims of fulfillment and freedom are addressed. The apostle wrests both from his opponents, claiming them for Christ.
The little we know about the so-called Colossian heresy lies buried in this text. Scholars differ in their reconstructions of this heresy from the available data. Some attribute it to so-called Judaizers; others, to gnostic influences. Almost all agree that it was syncretistic, philosophical, astrological, and ascetic.
Paul contends aggressively with the false teaching at Colosse. In doing so, we assume that he draws on much of the vocabulary peculiar to the heresy, thereby stripping its claims of their power. He countermands them by setting forth the claims of Christ. Thus his previous declaration of Christ’s sovereignty here finds further application.
The organization of Paul’s argument is hard to discern, but the attack of 2:6-15 clearly rests on the lordship of Christ. The readers are reminded of the benefits they derive from his person and work.
The apostle begins by reminding his readers of their initial confession of faith: “Jesus is Lord!” Jesus' lordship constitutes the theological and experiential grounds of Paul’s argument. On this basis, he exhorts the Colossians: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him” (v.6). They must keep their focus on Christ in order to continue in the way of salvation they have entered. Their attention is being diverted by the false teaching; they are being tempted to leave the Christian way in pursuit of other things.
A mixing of metaphors occurs in 2:7, but the effect is only to emphasize Paul’s essential point: There is room to grow in Christ, and that is what every believer ought to do! We find several connections between this exhortation and the preceding texts of 1:9-11, 22-23, and 1:28-2:5. Paul’s assertions of God’s purpose in Christ’s death, his own goals as a minister, and his prayer desires for the Colossians are now brought to focus on the problem at hand.
The warning of 2:8 is clear and stern. False teaching poses a dangerous threat to the church. Captive is a rare Greek verb that refers to the carrying off of booty. The Colossians have much to lose if they are beguiled by heresy. The false teaching is characterized as a hollow and deceptive philosophy. It has the appearance of wisdom (see 1:23), but lacks substance. It builds on the foundation of human tradition and the basic principles of this world(2:8). Paul disavows that it has any connection with Christ. Thus it is set in opposition to Christian doctrine. Its basis, content, and purpose are not only non-Christian; they are anti-Christian.
Paul has put his readers on alert, forewarning them of the personal threat posed by this philosophy. He proceeds, however, not by arguing against it tenet by tenet. Rather, he reminds his readers (vv.9-12) of a more important matter: namely, the nature of their identification with Christ as forgiven sinners. Presumably, in doing so, he also counters certain claims of the false teaching at Colosse.
Paul’s declaration of fullness in Christ (2:9) is based on the doctrine of Christ’s sovereignty (1:18-19). Lohse suggests that “since the words ‘fulness’ and ‘to be filled’ . . . are stressed so emphatically, they must have been key concepts in the ‘philosophy’” Paul was refuting (p. 100). The apostle contradicts the claims of his opponents with this polemical assertion: The entire fullness of deity dwells in Christ; therefore the experience of fullness is to be found in him, and in him alone.
Christian experience is indeed filled with significance and power. Through conversion, symbolized by baptism, the believer has been united with the sovereign Christ. In a unique and interesting way, Paul speaks of Christian baptism under the figure of circumcision. (Possibly, the Colossian philosophy taught and/or mandated circumcision of the flesh.) Christian baptism is likened to fleshly circumcision but is characterized as a circumcision done by Christ (v.11).
Wesley interpreted this passage as referring to the “circumcision of the heart” (Ro 2:29), symbolizing entire sanctification (Sermons, no. 13). The hermeneutical tradition of Wesleyanism still reflects that linkage. But the passage clearly refers to conversion.
Paul’s discourse on the believer’s identification with Christ is extended in 2:13-15, where he gives special attention to the meaning of God’s forgiveness. In a profound declaration of the benefits accruing to the believer from Christ’s death, the apostle declares: “He forgave us all our sins” (v.13). In the Greek, the following verbs are formally linked to this basic affirmation: “having forgiven” (charisamenos), “having canceled” (exaleipsas), “having nailed” (proselosas), “having disarmed” (apekdusamenos), and “having triumphed” (triambeusas). Most of these words are uncommon in the NT and are strikingly dramatic. Together they present a metaphor of Christ’s conquest over the powers and authorities (v.15). This metaphor highlights the essential connection between Christ’s forgiveness of sins and his victory over the principalities of this world.
Evangelical Wesleyans view the Cross as a symbol of Christ’s triumph over death, sin, and Satan. Through the power of the Cross, Christians may live a life of holiness and victory over sinning. The tyranny of sin and the power of the world’s temptations have been broken through Christ’s death and resurrection. Through their identification with him Christians experience a death to sin, self, and the world; in him they are quickened to new life, holiness, and power.
This affirmation is followed by exhortation (vv.16-23), as the apostle specifically addresses the Colossian situation. At issue is the freedom of Christian believers from the legalistic mandates of the false teaching.
Some of the regulations that Paul mentions possibly were derived from Judaism. See, for example, the reference to a Sabbath day (v.16). On the other hand, some elements of these heretical rules may have been derived from non-Jewish sources. “What he has seen” (v.18) is a technical term found in the mystery religions. The references to the worship of angels (v.18) and to harsh treatment of the body (v.23), moreover, suggest practices that are, if not non-Jewish, at least nonbiblical in origin. All in all, it appears that the false Colossian philosophy drew its teachings from a number of different religious sources.
As suggested earlier, 2:16-23 poses a challenge to contemporary Wesleyans who have a tendency to overdiscipline the Christian life and favor various forms of legalism. These well-intentioned and zealous believers should review the basis for and value of their regulations in the light of what Paul says here.
The passage poses another challenge to us: modern Christians often lack a systematic theology, thus leaving themselves open to “every wind of teaching” (Eph 4:14). Many—including Wesleyan pastors and laypersons alike—operate with a personal theology drawn from a variety of incompatible elements. This theological syncretism is a serious threat to the modern church.
The deceptive philosophy (v.8) at Colosse demanded the observance of sacred taboos and hallowed times. The apostle warns his Christian brothers and sisters not to allow anyone to rob them of their prize, their fullness in Christ (v.10), on the basis of such man-made religious standards (v.18). Spiritual growth comes only by holding fast to Christ and by continuing to participate in his body, the church.
Not infrequently, those who claim to have attained higher spiritual insights are unspiritual and simply puffed up with idle notions (v.18). Preoccupied with their own exalted experience, such persons have lost connection with the Head (v.19), so all of their religiosity is for naught. A religion based on man-made rules rather than Christ is misdirected and illusory. It leads, not to spiritual growth, but to religious presumption. Since you have died with Christ to the basic principles of this world (v.20), human commands have no value in promoting true spirituality.
Under the guise of fresh revelation, anointings, impartations, new ways to hear God and walk in the supernatural, false teachers of the NAR come to steal, kill, and destroy. But it’s not just the NAR that is leading people into deception, there are other movements and denominations in the visible church that are responsible for seducing people into error. The health and wealth gospel, word of faith heresy, false philosophies, traditions, new age doctrines, and mysticism have captivated millions in the visible church. In this post I offer ten signs that will help identify those who have been captivated by false teachers and false doctrines.
1. The captivated have compromised truth through pragmatism.
Pragmatism evaluates success based on results. If for example a pastor wants to grow his small congregation, the fashionable route for him to take would be a “church growth” seminar or Willow Creek conference. This will give him the methodologies necessary to increase numbers. He will discover that it’s not too difficult to grow a church in this generation. Successful business models are utilized in the church because apparently pagan entrepreneurs know better than Jesus or the authors of Scripture. All the pastor has to do is water down the gospel, focus on topical and motivational messages, create expectation, and exchange biblical terms like sin, judgement and suffering for legacy, shift, presence, and prophetic etc. Dim the lights, and let the contemporary sounds of Bethel or Hillsong bypass the minds while bringing goosebumps to the enthralled congregation and voila! – “church growth.” This probably without one single convert, and certainly without any of the previous members who may be saved, growing in their faith. God has not given the “increase,” a pragmatic approach has, compromise has. Experience and results should never define our theological persuasions. When we exchange truth with “what works” we have exchanged truth for a lie. Pragmatism causes truth to be relative, and when truth becomes relative, by definition it is no longer truth. When it’s no longer truth – it’s toxic. The fruits of pragmatism in the church are mega churches full of false converts and biblically illiterate believers carried about by every wind of doctrine.
2. The captivated serve a personality.
I have had many conversations with people who have been deceived by a false teacher. They usually avoid an invitation to compare the teachings of their idol (because that’s really what the false teacher has become) to Scripture. Instead, they resort to their first line of defense – “but do you know pastor X, have you met him/her ?” Their faith is in a personality instead of the principles of God’s Word. These false teachers have crafted an impressive persona. Like the super apostles Paul described in Corinthians, contemporary false teachers disguise themselves as “servants of righteousness.” They come across as individuals who know God intimately, and make sure everyone else is aware of their unique gifts and special relationship with God. Instead of hearing sermons that exegete the Word of God, followers are subjected to countless stories and experiences – the pastor of course being the central figure.
In short, they commend themselves – the direct opposite of Paul taught:
The captivated will drive thousands of miles to a stadium event (performance) to receive an “impartation” from their favourite personality, but that’s not all that drives them…
3. The captivated fall for false promises.
The captivated are desperate to alleviate the cares of this world, or increase their comforts in this world. Promises of breakthrough, healing, favour, pleasant “suddenlies,” transfers of wealth, supernatural encounters and miracles, entice those with itching ears or troubled souls. Like clouds without water false teachers fail to deliver. They promise their followers an encounter with God, but instead deliver an emotional experience or Kundalini spirit. They peddle their courses on how to hear the voice of God, but all you will hear is your own imagination or a deceiving spirit. The captivated believe they can decree things into existence, access heavenly portals, shift atmospheres, and perform greater miracles than Christ. The believe a Sozo course will bring healing, and that “pleading the blood of Jesus” will bring healing, protection, and deliverance. Year in and year out, like a hamster on a wheel, the captivated chase empty promises. After months, or even years, the island of shipwrecked souls claims another citizen. Disappointed in “God” the “church,” and “Christians,” these shipwrecked souls placed their hope in false promises.
4. The captivated are easily persuaded.
Paul was an apostle with a miraculous conversion, and by the time he reached Berea had chased out an evil spirit from a slave girl, and experienced a real suddenly – unlike the fake suddenlies of the NAR:
Paul had some great stories to tell, but he did not rely on stories to convince his listeners, he explained the scriptures: “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” Acts 17: 1-3
After preaching in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas travelled to Berea and continued preaching in the synagogue. The Berean’s saw it fit to test the doctrine of the great apostle:
This is what every believer should do, compare a teaching to the word of God regardless of who the teacher is. The Bereans were able to do this, because Paul reasoned “from the scriptures.” In other words, they were able to go directly to the source. The only infallible source – scripture, is sadly the last place those who are easily persuaded by false teachers visit. They are persuaded by eloquence, stories, signs, and appearances. As a result the captives of these false doctrines grow in false knowledge and experiences without gaining any knowledge of Christ or truth. The false prophets and apostles in the New Apostolic Reformation have perfected the art of the deceivers Paul described in Colossians 2:18: “...going on in detail about visions...” (ESV) “intruding into those things which he hath not seen...” (KJV) The gobbledygook of NAR mystics, stories of healings and encounters with God by hipster evangelists, and words of knowledge from google assisted prophets are sufficient to dupe the easily persuaded.
5. The captivated chase after supernatural phenomena.
Schools of “supernatural ministry” are flourishing around the globe. Like Simon the sorcerer, thousands of youngsters are offering money to receive power and supernatural gifts. So called “glory clouds” have mesmerized people, fooling them into believing that smoke and glitter are the manifest presence of God. Feathers, gold dust, gold fillings, oily palms, spasms as well as demonic manifestations are viewed as signs of “God touching someone.” Anyone who dares question the bizarre manifestations will be accused of having a “religious spirit.” Superstars in the New Apostolic Reformation have built careers based on their “miracles.” Their exploits are caught on film as they roam public spaces looking for those suffering from what seems to be the greatest ailment on earth – one leg shorter than the other. A warning for those trusting in signs and wonders:
God’s Word is clear regarding the danger of signs and wonders in the last days:
Captivated leaders teach that signs and wonders must always accompany any evangelistic endeavour. They have this in common with the rich man in Hades (Luke 16) – both believe something miraculous will convince the lost. The rich man reasoned with Abraham “but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent” Abraham’s answer – “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Those who teach that the gospel is not good news unless there is a demonstration of power are blinded to the fact that the power is not in signs and wonders, it’s in the gospel:
The gospel is sufficient and Scripture is more sure than any modern day sign or wonder.
6. The captivated are victims of peddlers.
While tithing is not taught in the new testament (giving cheerfully, not under compulsion, and according to our ability is taught) it’s become a tool in the hands of unscrupulous teachers, some of whom threaten that if you don’t give your tenth, the rest of your money will be cursed, and you give a foothold to demons. Teaching tithing has become a “get rich quick” scheme, and a great way for false teachers to accumulate wealth and maintain their empires (mega churches). It does not stop at tithing, there’s usually some sort of building fund, missionary fund, social justice cause, and other causes that members are asked to give towards. Another means of raking in the dollars are workshops, conferences, online courses and books. You are going to pay to learn how to: hear God’s voice, shift atmospheres, receive healing, walk in intimacy with God, experience supernatural powers, etc. The captivated spend an awful amount of money in order to gain some sort of advantage or deeper knowledge, they are in a constant state of always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. The captivated and their money are easily parted as they pay for their never ending quest to hear and experience God.
7. The captivated who begin to ask questions are penalized.
You are never going to be in that inner circle, or part of the clique in “church” unless you prove yourself worthy. Under the guise of a “culture of honour” leaders are able to excuse their failures, avoid critique, promote their false doctrines, and maintain a firm grip on their ignorant followers. Once you invest time, and more importantly money, you will climb the food chain relatively fast. Display blind loyalty to the leader, salivate over their unfounded stories and visions, accept their teachings without question, and you will be rewarded. But if you dare to step out of line, you will discover that the “culture of honour” is an excuse to employ a “culture of shame” upon truth seekers. You may even think you are going mad or imagining things, and at first you will lay all the blame on yourself. This just shows how effective the brainwashing and manipulation has been. It’s a common story – those who are in the final stages of exiting a church that teaches false doctrines will tell you how they suddenly lost favour in the eyes of their leaders when they asked legitimate questions. They are asked to step down from positions, they are shamed, ostracized, patronized, and rumours are spread about them. This serves as a warning to potential mutineers by creating a fearful atmosphere.
8. The captivated become pharisaical.
Point 7 demonstrated this fact. Approach a false teacher or one of their followers in sincerity and humility with a scriptural rebuttal concerning their teachings or revelations, and you will probably experience a venomous response. Their first cry will be “don’t judge.” This verse is used out of context when defending false teachers. “Don’t judge” really means don’t judge hypocritically: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5. The same chapter instructs us to beware of false prophets and examine their fruits (7:15-20) “Judge not” does not mean: never discern, never test all things, or ignore those who bring a different teaching! Those who use this verse to silence critics of false teachers or false teachings, are in fact judging someone for correct judgement. In other words, they are self-righteous and hypocrites – pharisaical. They will preach love and tolerance, but are unloving towards those who are trying to warn them that their souls are in grave danger. They will tolerate false teachers, doctrines of demons and demonic manifestations, but will turn their backs on family or lifelong friends who attempt to reason with them from the scriptures.
Another example of hypocrisy can be found in the area of healing. Bespectacled pastors will tell you the atonement guarantees healing, and that if you are not healed it can only be your fault. Their own healing rooms, Sozo courses and supernatural students cannot heal them. They go for surgery and rely on medication like the rest of us (that’s not to say God does not heal – he does, according to his will.) These teachers who cannot heal themselves or each other, charge for courses on healing. The fake healers who stretch legs in shopping malls will never be found filming a miracle in the ICU wards of hospitals.
9. The captivated believe they can change this world into a paradise.
“As above so below” has become the mantra of New Apostolic Reformation proponents. This occultic phrase is used in The Message bible (a perversion of scripture) “Set the world right; Do what’s best – as above, so below.” – The Message. The correct translation is: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10. So what does the phrase “Your kingdom come” really mean? False teachers would reason as follows – there is no poverty or disease in heaven, and therefore there should be no poverty and disease on earth. There is peace in heaven, so there should be peace on earth, etc. False teachers will tell you the world is getting better all the time, and Christ is coming back once believers have reclaimed the seven spheres of society. The Bible teaches the direct opposite. (2 Timothy 3:1-9) Jesus made it clear that his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) it is not external or secular and it will certainly not transform this planet into paradise. When we pray “thy kingdom come” we are asking God to transform us, not the world, we are asking God to conquer the souls of men and women, not the seven spheres of society, and we are anticipating the coming kingdom when Christ will rule and reign on earth after he has brought judgement on the earth. (2 Peter 3:7) Until then, believers will go through many trials and tribulations, they will be mocked, not celebrated, persecuted not praised, and while God still heals some according to his will, many believers will have to endure sickness and disabilities. The captivated want to be settlers in this world, they are not sojourners looking forward to the day when Christ will come and rule, they want to be little gods and take dominion for themselves. They translate the word “kingdom” as dominion and comfort in this present age. They attempt to “set the world right” because their focus is on the temporal instead of the eternal.
10. The captivated have been placated.
Not much has changed since the days of Isaiah, there’s a reason people follow contemporary false prophets – they want to hear “smooth things.” This is why the captivated are so intent on defending their favourite false teacher. They are not just defending a personality, they are defending the message that has tickled their ears. They have bought into various lies – God guarantees wealth and health, they can walk in any supernatural gift they choose etc. They have not been taught the crucified life. They want dominion, power, favour and success. They have been placated by smooth operators, from the blatant health and wealth charlatans to the spiritual mystics who have exchanged sound teachings for nonsensical sayings and encounters with a divine agent.
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