0H-_How_To_Discern_False_Teachers_and_Cults_-_7_Characteristics.doc

Forerunner School of Ministry – Mike Bickle

How to Discern False Teachers and Cults: 7 Characteristics                                                                                                                Page 4

How To Discern False Teachers and Cults: 7 Characteristics

I.                   Jesus warned about false prophets and cults

A.                 When Jesus taught on the end times, He warned us to beware of false teachers who could gain a large following, thus starting new cults. A cult is a group with an unusual devotion to one leader and his set of beliefs that are not found in Scripture (as affirmed in historic Christianity).

4 Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many…11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many…24 False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24)

B.                 The conflict in the end times will be a battle for truth. Satan’s weapon will be deception and our defense will be love for the truth. This battle will focus on defining who Jesus is and how we are to love Him. We must love God on His terms. Our love for God must be expressed in allegiance to Jesus and the Bible. The Spirit exalts Jesus by guiding us into all truth about Him.

13 The Spirit of truth…will guide you into all truth…He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (Jn. 16:13-14)

C.                 Truths about Jesus that offend humanists include His right as God to establish absolute standards to which the nations will be held accountable to Him for. Second, Jesus is the only way of salvation. Third, Jesus possesses the wisdom and love to judge sin in time and eternity.

D.                 Paul warns us of a falling away in the end times that can be avoided by loving the truth.

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (Jesus’ return) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed…9 according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. (2 Thes. 2:3-10)

E.                  Love for the truth is more than adherence to it. We take a firm stand for it regardless of what it costs us. Loving truth requires that we commit to accept any new ideas as long as they are substantiated in the Scripture regardless of how different they are from our religious background.

F.                  Some will fall away in the end times as people pay attention to doctrines inspired by demons.

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy… (1 Tim. 4:1-2)

G.                 Paul spoke about false teaches who would start cults by drawing people after themselves. He admonished the elders to be alert to this (1 Tim. 1:3-11; 4:1-8; 6:2-7, 20-21; 2 Tim. 3:1-17).

29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)

H.                 Peter warns of the dangers of false teachers who deny the main tenets of our faith. They can be detected most easily by their covetousness and immorality (2 Pet. 2:9-14; Jude 8-10).

1 There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord…2 Many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed (ridiculed). 3 By covetousness they will exploit (manipulate) you with deceptive words…14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin…They have a heart trained in covetous practices…18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness… (2 Pet. 2:1-18)

I.                    False teachers do not hold to the main and plain doctrines of Scripture. They pervert the teaching about the grace of God by either legalism or lewdness. Legalism seeks to earn the grace of God. Lewdness reduces the message of grace to receiving forgiveness without turning from our sin. The true grace message inspires us to deny lust and empowers us to walk godly (Titus 2:11-12).

4 For certain men (false teachers) have crept in unnoticed…ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny…our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)

J.                   We must accept the main historical Christian doctrines which include:
Jesus as God’s only son who is fully God and fully man, born of virgin birth, without sin
Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand
The one true God exists in three persons (Trinity) as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Salvation is by faith alone, through grace alone and in Christ alone
The infallibility of Scripture as our final authority for all matters of faith and practice
The unity and diversity of the Body of Christ

K.                 See the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Westminster’s Confession for more references

II.                Seven characteristics of cults

A.                 If a group embraces one of these characteristics, then they are a cult or have cult tendencies.

B.                 #1 They oppose critical thinking: Vs. people thinking for themselves

1. 1. 1. Cults teach: Their members must accept what they believe without challenging their doctrines. They do not want their members to think critically for themselves.
      2. The Bible teaches: We must all challenge each teaching that we hear by the light of Scripture. Loyalty to a ministry involves challenging it with humility. Do not believe a teaching that you cannot see with your eyes in your Bible. Think for yourself and do not quickly accept ideas. Do not say, “Our leaders say…” but rather say, “The Bible says…”

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thes. 5:21)

11 They (the Bereans) received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11)

C.                 #2 They penalize people for leaving their cult: Vs. helping them do God’s will for their life

1. 1. 1. Cults teach: People will be judged by God or will lose God’s best if they leave. Rejection, shunning and warnings of judgment are given. People are taught to make lifelong commitments to the group and/or to seek permission to join another ministry.
      2. The Bible teaches: The first concern of a leader is for what is good for the people under them. Therefore, leaders are to help ...