Be Ready to Confront False Teachings

Last Sunday evening, I had the opportunity to preach here at FSBC Yuma. As I was preparing for this sermon, I was praying and asking God to show me what I should preach on, and what He showed me is something that has been on my heart for a while now. The sermon focused on 1 & 2 Timothy, and Paul's warnings to Timothy regarding false teachers in later times and the last days.

In 1 Timothy 4, Paul warns Timothy that in later times, there will be people who depart from the faith and follow the teachings of demons and deceitful spirits. There will be liars and deceivers who teach false doctrines and lead people astray from the truth, because they themselves have a seared conscience and are standing against God.

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul warns Timothy that a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have itching ears, wanting to hear only what they want to hear. These people will then accumulate teachers that suit these passions and turn away from listening to the truth. The point here is that truth will no longer be held in any sort of regard. Truth will intentionally and willfully be discarded, in exchange for lies and myths. Unfortunately, we can see this happening within the church today. Sound doctrine and truth are being rejected and lies are being accepted.

Don't believe me? We have pastors in churches today who do not believe that heaven is a literal place of existence and that they words that Jesus used to describe hell are metaphorical. Some churches are starting to incorporate eastern mysticism practices into their worship services. Some "church leaders" argue that you do not have to believe in Jesus to follow Him. And one could continue on with more examples. What we need to wake up and realize is that the warnings Paul gave to Timothy are just as applicable to us today as they were to Timothy.

So what can we do? First, we need to be in Scripture daily, seeking the truth of God and knowing what God's word says. Second, we need to confront those who are teaching false doctrines in the church. Notice in 1 & 2 Timothy, Paul did not tell Timothy to stand by and let false teachers continue teaching. Paul told Timothy to remain in Ephesus and confront the false teachers. Third, we need to do as Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, "...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." When the opportunity comes for you to share the Gospel message of Christ, or when the opportunity comes to confront false teachings, be ready to preach the word. But if we want to be ready to preach the word, we have to be in the word, so that the word will be in us!