Chuck Larsen

Paul calls the false teachers dangerous dogs and lays out several characteristics that are designed to help Titus identify them and deal with them in the appropriate way. You’ll know them because they are defiant of legitimate authority, they are distracters from true truth, they are deceivers and often use lies to promote their cause and finally, he tells us that they are divisive. Everywhere you find “false teachers” you’ll find discord, strife, and conflict.

Divisive behavior is often attributed to the evangelical community because for the most part they do not compromise their convictions. In many major denominations today we are reading about division because official leadership has chosen to ordain homosexuals into their ministry, or reject the authority of scripture, or promote and support the cause of abortion over against defending the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves. Each of these issues has been a solid doctrine in the historic Christian faith. Yet, those who stand for the rights of the unborn, or who reject homosexual marriage or ordination, or who stand firm on the promises of God recorded in the scripture are those who are seen as the divisive element. Martin Luther is the cause for the major split in a one world church (despite the fact that the east and west Catholic Church split over issues hundreds of years earlier). Yet, Luther was the one who held to the apostolic authority of the Scriptures and argued “sola scriptura” as the basis of all authority.

Discord and conflict as well as strife and confusion arise when false teachers attempt to usurp the authority of Christ and the Scriptures and twist them to their own ends. This is exactly what Jude meant when he wrote, “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions,..” (Emphasis added) (Jude 17-19). Paul also warned the Romans with a powerful verse. He says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ..”

Chuck
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: …enmity, strife…rivalries, dissensions, divisions… those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Another common trait that Paul tells Titus to be on the look out for is deception. He calls the false teachers, the dangerous dogs, “deceivers.” I like the way the Amplified Bible translates, and adds explanation to Paul’s warning to the Galatians who were falling prey to false teachers. He says, “A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump (it perverts the whole conception of faith and misleads the whole church.”

Let me quote one of my old professors who wrote a popular handbook on cultic misinterpretations. He gives some examples and explains the deceptive nature of cults. He writes, “Moonies are known for their so–called heavenly deception. Duplicity and lies are used to win converts into the movement. Mormon founder Joseph Smith also engaged in fraudulent tactics which, on occasion, even landed him in court, where he was once found guilty and fined. Modern leaders of Transcendental Meditation have also been deceptive in trying to further their cause. Far more common is the cults’ use of Christian terms infused with new meanings, thus deceiving untrained Christians into believing the cult is Christian. For example, New Age cults sometimes use the Christian terms ‘resurrection’ and ‘ascension’ when they really mean the ‘rise’ of Christ–consciousness in the world. The familiar Christian term ‘born again’ is often employed by New Agers to support the doctrine of reincarnation. The term ‘the Christ’ is used by New Agers to seek Christian approval when to them it actually means an occult office held by various gurus throughout history.”

Norm Geisler often gets in trouble for speaking his mind so clearly. I know about that. But let me finish again today giving you his words about the danger of spiritual deception. Again he writes, “Those who believe lies are already deceived. And if they act on these lies they are in danger. Some everyday examples make the point well. If you believe a railroad flashing sign is just stuck when it isn’t, you are in serious danger of being hit by a train. If you believe ice on a lake is very thick when it is thin, you are in danger of drowning. If you think you are on a two–way street when it is one–way, you are in dire danger of a head–on collision. The spiritual danger of believing a lie is even more serious—it has eternal consequences! To die while believing in the Jesus of the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Jesus of Mormonism is to die believing in a counterfeit Jesus who preaches a counterfeit gospel which yields a counterfeit salvation (which, in fact, is no salvation at all).”

Chuck
“The truth shall set you free…” John 8:32