Evaluating Teachers in the Church
Paul wrote this to the Churches in Galatia:
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed (NIV: condemned). 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:6-9
Those are some pretty harsh words coming from someone who just a little more than a decade ago was subscribing to his own version of heresy in custom with the religious teaching of his day. His actions went beyond a mere disagreement with Christianity to the point of persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ. And several years later, he is astonished by the quick desertion of these Christians in the churches in Galatia away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ to follow a "different (or better, another) gospel."
Much in the manner that these Christians began to "desert" the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, I'd like to make some quick comments regarding evaluating teachers in the Church. I believe there are some practical ways that we, as Christians, can determine whether or not something is true and of God and those things which are not.
Paul gives us some right here:
1) False teachers "pervert" the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To simply state that a "false teaching" is a "mistake" and that the teacher who made a mistake is "forever condemned" is out of balance with the context of this Scripture. Paul is talking about those who purposefully attempt to twist, distort, confuse others within the church. Whether it is in the form of "adding to" or "taking away"--Paul is clearly focusing on the attitudes of these teachers. It is not enough to simply "not state" certain biblical truths RE: the Gospel of Jesus Christ; no, these teachers maliciously "twist" the gospel in accordance with their own views and beliefs.
2) False teachers "trouble" the Church of Jesus Christ.
John Stott said ". . . to tamper with the Gospel is to trouble the Church." These Christians in Galatia, and us as well, must learn to evaluate the source of the teaching that they and we receive. This phrase "trouble you" describe the opposite of eirene, the peace of God and peace in our hearts. This "false gospel (which is not a gospel at all) contradicts the true Gospel of Jesus Christ which does bring peace. Heresy has a way of festering more and more confusion in the body of Christ.
So look for those two things: someone "twisting the truth" and bringing "trouble to the church". Harsh words for those - eternal condemnation.
Created over 2 years ago
