This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh...
As we get back to false teachers/prophets and how to recognize them we see a couple more warning signs. First is they despise authority. I love non-denominational churches because in an ideal world of Christianity, we shouldn't be demarcated by our differences but by our unity. I'm not saying denominations are bad because they have become necessary in our fallen world. Paul says to the messed up church in Corinth,
'I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval."
There are so many wrong interpretations of scripture out there, that if a church is aligning themselves with that, say for example "name it and claim it", they need to be labeled so you know what you are getting when you enter the door. But getting back to non-denominational churches, they do attract or are started up by pastors that don't like people over them and being under submission to a board. In fact, one such preacher in our area as he faced criticism compared those questioning him to the 10 spies and those not questioning him to Joshua and Caleb and saying "which do you want to be?" They like to be in control of everything especially where the money goes. Watch out for preachers who aren't under authority or have a "puppet board" for show.
The second diagnostic sign of a false teacher is that they are arrogant. Humility is not necessarily something that draws you to a teacher. We are drawn to confidence, boldness, boastfulness of accomplishment, appearance, followers on social media, and we think that this person must bear listening to. A true man of God realizes that he is no better than anyone and the only thing he has worth saying comes from the Holy Spirit who has given him the gift of teaching. I don't even bother listening to cocky preachers any more even though some of them are very good. Am I being judgmental? Maybe - but give me humility any day.
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