The Need to Address False Teachers in the Church Today

In order to address false spiritual leaders in the church is to call it by name. The reason is that there are people in the church today who are wondering who are these individuals, what exactly do they teach that appears to be so controversial, am I apart of a church or ministry that teach such false doctrine.  In Paul's letter in Timothy, Titus, and many of his epistles that he mentioned the "names" of individuals within the early church that were so reckless in their teachings so as to lead many people astray so as to influence them morally (2 Pet. 2:2). But yet there are other times by which the apostle Paul did not mentioned the names of these individuals, yet nevertheless Paul made clear that of their false teachings as to be reckless (2 Tim. 2:17, 18).
   Their is a need to address false teachings in the church because of its philosophical worldview that does not represent biblical truth (Col. 2:8; 2 Pet. 2:1). The subtlety of false teaching is that it appears to be truth, but in really it is no truth at all. The craftiness of false doctrine is deck with such a Christian garment, but beneath it is deadly to its core values and beliefs.  The apostle Peter declares according to 2 Peter 2:1 where it says, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly introduce to you destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
   The enemies of the true faith is that of neo-Gnosticism: that of its "elevated" knowledge as to be superior in knowledge as opposed to Sense-Rule knowledge (Col. 2:18, 19).  The basic principle of the worldview philosophical belief of Gnosticism is that, "Spirit is good; flesh is evil." When it comes to the Person and work of Jesus Christ many Gnostics will contend that there was the "appearance" of Christ dying on the cross thereby it is impossible for the Christ Spirit to reside in the Man Jesus.  Thus Faith televangelism deny that Jesus is not the Christ.  One African American Faith televangelist says, "Jesus is not the Christ; Jesus had to be "anointed" in order to do miracles." For Faith televangelist to deny the Person and work of Jesus Christ is thwarts that of the redemptive work of Christ (Jn. 3:16, 17). Without Christ dying on the cross for the sins of humanity is that hopeless man is without salvation.
   Most Gnostics in the professing church today who claim that the supposedly "superior" knowledge that they received are "directly" from God at the exclusion of the special revelation of the Bible that are already revealed in scripture (2 Tim. 3:15, 17).  The extent by which they claim such "revelatory" knowledge of scripture are within their human spirit as opposed to rational faith.  The human spirit of Gnostics in the professing church today is their source of authority; not the objective truth of scripture.  Whenever people today seek some "spiritual" truth outside the boundaries of scripture charter such dangerous waters of mysticism (Col. 2:19).  Mysticism hold sway than what is truth of God's Word (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
   How has Gnostics within the professing church today infiltrate historic biblical Christianity and the historic Christian church? What are the distinctive doctrines of neo-Gnosticism that are so controversial to the Church today? What are the language that Gnostics utilize to "appeal" to be Christian? Why is it so difficult for the unsuspecting and naïve of believers in not being able to detect the dangerous implication of Gnostics in the professing Church today?
   Gnostics in the professing church today will compete with that of biblical Christianity and the historic Christian church (i.e. "divinity" of Christ) so as to appear to be Christian but beneath its seductive dress radically depart from the true faith (1 Tim. 4:1). Even though Gnostics within the professing church today utilize the language of the Bible (e.g. "Christ in You") but have radically different meanings (2 Cor. 4:1-4).  For Gnostics to contend that in order to be saved is to "recognize" who you are in Christ as to be God Incarnate teach what is contrary to the truth of scripture. Salvation is through personal faith in God's Son; not through "knowledge" of who you are in Christ as to the Sonship of Christ.
   For Gnostics to teach such damnable heresies as to the believer's Sonship in Christ destroys both the faith and life of the Church today.  The impact of such false teaching as to the believer's Sonship in Christ causes people faith to become spiritually shipwrecked (2 Tim. 2:17-18). 
   The philosophical worldview of neo-Gnosticism have in fact infiltrated that of the church today by which it has weaken the spiritual immune system of biblical Christianity and the historic Christian church to war-off the infectious virus of mysticism (Col. 2:8, 18, 19).
   The moral influence of Gnostics in the professing church today has in fact corrupted the moral lives of God's people as to live a life pleasing unto the Lord.  The extent of such moral influence is its disdain for sound doctrine, its willingness to accept what is untrue, and its determination of traveling the road of mystical theology leading into a dead intersection of such gross immoral cliff.  The remedy for spiritual apostasy is God's divine judgment (Jude 8-10).
   The influence of Gnostics in the professing church today when it comes to professing Christians is to deny the true faith in favor of what is emotional.  Experiential theology carries more weight than what is the truth of God's Word.  There are many of professing believers who have heard the Gospel preach in such a way that they are knowledgeable as to come to faith in Jesus Christ, but because of unbelief and rebellion refuse to cross over the threshold of faith in Jesus Christ (Heb. 6:10ff).
   Many Gnostics who claim to preach liberty in Christ as to say that "true" freedom is liberation from the imprisonment of the human spirit from the incarceration of the body is to experience such freedom in Christ.  Both libertinism and asceticism characterized that of the philosophy of Gnosticism but heightened the propensity of sinning regarding professing Christians in the church today (1 Jn. 1:8).
   In essence it is so important to call it by name false teachers who are causing such a havoc in the lives of God's people, that of the "specifics" of their false doctrine, and the impact of their influence as to "how" they lead people astray.

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is the president & Chairman of Darryl Miller International Ministries of Atlanta, Georgia.  He is also the Radio Host of "Answer In Focus" Ministries that is aired weekly in Atlanta and throughout the United States.  Darryl is bestselling author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?  As a apologist, pastor, Senior researcher/editor, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and the continents.  Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside of Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby." 
  

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