"Recognizing false teachings" By Diane Webb

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

“Recognizing false teachings” By Diane Webb

Colossians 2: 10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Paul writes to the church in Colosse in response to reports they have been listening to false teachers. Paul reminds the Colossians they are whole with Christ and do not need power or assistance from another source—even a supernatural one.  Paul emphasizes Christ’s supremacy over all creatures including angels—fallen or otherwise.  Principality and power, when seen in the Bible, refers to angelic rulers over geographic areas (Ephesians 6:  12 for example).  It seems the false teachers had some contact with, or were influenced by, these principalities and powers.    Verse ten makes it clear nothing and no one is above Jesus Christ.  No angel or power can add to what Christ has done for us and no angel or power can take it away.  False teachings do not come in the form of a black book with the words “false teachings” on it. Few people would go along with a doctrine clearly labeled as false.  False teachings come in the form of something that seems good and right—at least on the surface.  Most who espouse false teachings are doing so out of ignorance and believe the doctrines are from God or a representative of God.  Like Paul, this is meant to help you recognize if you are being misled by nice sounding doctrines not of God.  When you look at Colossians, Paul gives specific ways to distinguish false teachings.  His rule in verse ten is:  any teaching that makes you feel you are not complete with Jesus Christ alone, would have you add something to Jesus Christ, or would have you take something away from Jesus Christ, are all false teachings.  There was a man who was discussing his beliefs about the historical Jesus over dinner on a date.  He indicated he believed Jesus was a “great prophet”, a “great man”, but not God. Many false teachers say this about our Christ thinking to pacify us by acknowledging the greatness of Jesus while at the same time calling him a liar or a delusional psychotic.  Jesus himself said he is both God and man (see John 1: 1, 14 for example).  A great man does not lie or preach false doctrine.  The key way to recognize a false teaching or false prophecy is to look for the full recognition and acceptance of Jesus Christ, as the son of God, who was both God and man, and came to the world in the flesh.  Any person or doctrine that does not support this basic belief which is the foundation of Christianity is not of God even when the teacher may truly believe they are.  You cannot mix beliefs of Christianity with other doctrine.  It would be interesting to read exactly what the false teachers were telling the Christians of Colosse.  However, looking at the responses Paul gives in his letter to the Colossians; it is obvious those false teachers and prophets are still at work today.  The message is this:   no matter how innocent, spiritual, religious, or enlightening a teaching may seem to be on the surface, steer clear away from anything that appears to add to or take away from our Gospel.  Pray for those who have been misled and those who sincerely believe false teachings.  Do not criticize, talk down to, or wag your finger in their face.  Pray for these individuals to see the truth—God’s truth.  Pray for the veil of deceit to be lifted from their eyes, ears, and heart.  Pray for these things for yourself as well.  It is so easy to be misled without realizing it.  May God be with you and protect you from falling prey to false teachings today.

Heavenly father, I pray today that I will not be misled by nice sounding falsehoods that tweak the gospel ever so slightly as to pervert your truths.  Help me recognize when I need to pray for others and help me to never alienate people by my words, thoughts, attitude, or behavior.  I ask humbly in Christ’s name—Amen.