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7 Characteristics of False Teachers
Personal blog posted by Lahry Sibley on December 31, 2009 at 7:46am
.7 Characteristics of False Teachers
by Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
That Satan labours might and main, by false teachers, which are his
messengers and ambassadors, to deceive, delude, and for ever undo the
precious souls of men (Acts 20:28-30; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Eph. 4:14; 2
Tim. 3:4-6; Titus 1:11,12; 2 Peter 2:18,19): "I have seen folly in the
prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal,and caused my people
Israel to err" (Jer. 23:13). "The prophets make my people to err"
(Micah 3:5). They seduce them, and carry them out of the right way into
by-paths and blind thickets of error, blasphemy, and wickedness, where
they are lost forever. "Beware of false prophets, for they come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Mat.
7:15). These lick and suck the blood of souls: "Beware of dogs, beware
of evil workers, beware of the concision" (Phil. 3:2). These kiss and
kill; these cry, Peace, peace, till souls fall into everlasting flames,
&c., Proverbs 7.
Now, the best way to deliver poor souls from being deluded and
destroyed by these messengers of Satan is, to discover them in their
colors, that so, being known, poor souls may shun them, and fly from
them as from hell itself.
Now you may know them by these characters following:
THE FIRST CHARACTER
False teachers are men-pleasers (Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:1-4). They
preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart: "Which say to
the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophecy not unto us right
things: speak to us smooth things; prophecy deceits"' (Isa. 30:10). "A
wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land: the prophets
prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my
people love to have it so. And what will you do in the end thereof?"
(Jer. 5:30,31). They handle holy things rather with wit and dalliance
(playful come-on) then with fear and reverence. False teachers are
soulundoers. They are like evil chirurgeons, that skin over the wound,
but never heal it. Flattery undid Ahab and Herod, Nero and Alexander.
False teachers are hell's greatest enrichers. Non acerba, sed blanda,
Not bitter, but flattering words do all the mischief, said Valerian,
the Roman emperor. Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners (Jer.
23:16,17).
THE SECOND CHARACTER
False teachers are notable in casting dirt, scorn, and reproach upon
the persons, names, and credits of Christ's most faithful ambassadors.
Thus Korah, Dathan, and Abiram charged Moses and Aaron that they took
too much upon them, seeing all the congregation was holy (Num. 16:3).
You take too much state, too much power, too much honour, too much
holiness upon you; for what are you more than others, that you take so
much upon you? And so Ahab's false prophets fell foul on good Micaiah,
paying of him with blows for want of better reasons (1 Kings 22:10-26).
Yea, Paul, that great apostle of the Gentiles, had his ministry
undermined and his reputation blasted by false teachers: "For his
letters"' say they, "are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence
is weak and contemptible" (2 Cor. 10:10). They rather contemn him than
admire him; they look upon him as a dunce rather than a doctor. And the
same hard measure had our Lord Jesus from the Scribes and Pharisees,
who laboured as for life to build their own credit upon the ruins of
his reputation. And never did the devil drive a more full trade this
way than he does in these days (Matt. 27:63). Oh! the dirt, the filth,
the scorn that is thrown upon those whom the world is not worthy. I
suppose false teachers mind not that saying of Austin, Quisquis volens
detrahit famae, nolens addit mercedi meae, He that willingly takes from
my good name, unwillingly adds to my reward.
THE THIRD CHARACTER
False teachers are venters of the devices and visions of their own
heads and hearts. "Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy
lies in my name: I sent then not, neither have I commanded them,
neither spake unto them: they prophecy unto you a false vision and
divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart (Jer.
14:14); "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Harken not unto the words of the
prophets that prophecy unto you; they make you vain: they speak a
vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord" (Jer.
23:16). Are there not multitudes in this nation whose visions are but
golden delusions, lying vanities, brain-sick phantasies? These are
Satan's great benefactors, and such as divine justice will hang up in
hell as the greatest malefactors, if the physician of souls does not
prevent it.
THE FOURTH CHARACTER
False teachers easily pass over the great and weighty things both of
law and gospel, and stand most upon those things that are of the least
moment and concernment to the souls of men. "Now the end of the
commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience,
and of faith unfeigned; from which some have swerved, have turned aside
unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, and understand
neither what they say nor whereof they affirm" (1 Tim. 1:5-7). "Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint,
and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the
law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not
to leave the other undone" (Matt. 23:2,3). False teachers are nice in
the lesser things of the law, and as negligent in the greater. "If any
man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and
strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, perverse disputings of men corrupt minds, and destitute of
the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw
thyself" (1 Tim. 6:3-5). If such teachers are not hypocrites in grain,
I know nothing, Romans 2:22. The earth groans to bear them, and hell is
fitted for them, Matt. 24:32.
THE FIFTH CHARACTER
False teachers cover and color their dangerous principles and
soul-impostures with very fair speeches and plausible pretenses, with
high notions and golden expressions. Many in these days are bewitched
and deceived, viz. illumination, revelation, deification, fiery
triplicity, &c. As strumpets paint their faces, and deck and
perfume their beds, the better to allure and deceive simple souls (Gal.
6:12; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Rom. 16:17,18; Mat. 16:6,11,12; 7:15), so false
teachers will put a great deal of paint and garnish upon their most
dangerous principles and blasphemies, that they may the better deceive
and delude poor ignorant souls. They know sugared poison goes down
sweetly; they wrap up their pernicious, soul-killing pills in gold.
THE SIXTH CHARACTER
False teachers strive more to win over men to their opinions, than to
better them in their conversations. "Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one
proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of
hell than yourselves" (Matt. 24:17). They busy themselves most about
men's heads. Their work is not to better men's hearts, and mend their
lives; and in this they are very much like their father the devil, who
will spare no pains to gain proselytes.
THE SEVENTH CHARACTER
False teachers make merchandise of their followers. "But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false
teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment
now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not"
(2 Peter 2:1-3). They eye your goods more than your good; and mind more
the serving of themselves, than the saving of your souls. So they may
have your substance, they care not though Satan has your souls (Rev.
18:11-13). That they may the better pick your purse, they will hold
forth such principles as are very indulgent to the flesh. False
teachers are the great worshippers of the golden calf (Jer. 6:13).
Now, by these characters you may know them, and so shun them, and
deliver your souls out of their dangerous snares; which that you may,
my prayers shall meet-yours at the throne of grace.
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