What does the Bible say about spiritual leaders and their teachings?
The simple believeth every word: But the prudent man looketh well to his going – Proverbs 14.15
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines – Hebrews 13.9
What happens if you eat rotten food? Or you drink contaminated water? You’ll become weak and sick. Wise people don’t purposely do something that may harm them. Wise people don’t listen to a teaching that can destroy them. The Bible says that some teaching is ‘healthy’ but other teaching is not[1]. False teaching destroys our spiritual life, just like bad food destroys good health.
God warns us to be careful what and who we listen to[2].
Take heed that no man deceive you. (…) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders – Matthew 24.4 and 24a
The deceivers Jesus spoke about are considered as God’s people. Their teaching may sound appealing. They perform miracles. They may be honoured and be called pastor, prophet, father, bishop, apostle or whatever. Deceivers may seem to be genuine and sincere people.
Jesus warns us not to believe everyone who claims to speak on behalf of God[3]. We can be deceived by some of them. We must test every person and every teaching to see if it is from God. We must know the difference between true and false teaching. If we listen to ‘healthy’ teaching only, we’ll be spiritually healthy and strong.
Four questions
We must ask four questions to differentiate true and false prophets and pastors and their teachings.
The first question is, ‘Are the pastor/prophet and the teaching faithful to what God has revealed in the Bible?’ Every teaching that contradicts the Bible has to be denied[4]. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed – Galatians 1.9. Therefore, we must know what God teaches us in the Bible! Read the Bible daily and ask God for help to understand it. The Bible tells us that God created everything perfect[5]. However, men decided to disobey God (which is to sin)[6]. We are therefore separated from God[7]. Out of grace, God gave His only Son Jesus to restore what is broken[8]. Everyone who repents from sin and believes in Jesus alone for salvation, receives spiritual life from God and is a child of God[9]. God’s children receive forgiveness of their sin[10]. God the Holy Spirit lives in them guide them and to teach them to honour God[11]. They’ll be with God forever in Heaven[12]. Those who have not received forgiveness will be in hell forever when they die[13]. Hell is a terrible place. The main message in the Bible is who God is for sinful people. Real prophets will therefore not speak about themselves, but to the glory of God[14]. A prophet’s duty is to bring sinners back to God through repentance and faith in Jesus[15]. Examine the message you hear in church, on the radio and TV. Is God the Centre of the message?
The second question is, ‘Does the person who teaches live according to the Bible?’ The Bible tells that we can recognize false Christians by their fruits[16]. God has a high moral standard for Christians, especially for leaders like pastors and prophets[17]. (…) blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous – 1 Timothy 3.2 and 3. Think about the pastors and prophets you know. Are they pure,humble, just, righteous, patient, loving and temperate?
The third question is, ‘Do their predictions happen indeed?’ Fake prophets and pastors claim be able to predict the future in God’s name and with His authority. If the predicted does not happen, it is a sign that that person is a false pastor/prophet who just says what people like to hear[18]. When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously – Deuteronomy 18.22a
The last question is, ‘Does the person teach and live based on facts?’ Some pastors and prophets write books that contain stories which are not true. God warns against that[19]. They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables – 2 Timothy 4.4. God tells us to teach facts: things that really happened and are proved to be true, especially the facts of what Jesus did[20]. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables (…) but wereeyewitnesses of His majesty – 2 Peter 1.16
Conclusion
Only if all four questions are answered positive, we can recognize a person as prophet, Bible teacher, pastor or whatever you may call such a person. Examine the spiritual leaders. Draw your conclusion. Follow what is right.
Health and prosperity in the Bible
Pastors, prophets, bishops and others who faithfully teach the Bible often have only a few followers. The Gospel message is about sin and salvation through Jesus[21]. But some people teach that the Gospel message is about God wanting His people always to be successful and rich, like Abraham and Solomon in the Bible. Let’s examine this teaching according to the Bible.
1. Poor believers in the Bible
The Bible warns that riches can hinder us spiritually[22].
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! – Luke 18.24b
The Bible tells us about poor and afflicted believers. A poor widow was praised by Jesus[23]. The beggar Lazarus entered Heaven but a rich man didn’t[24]. Steven was killed for Jesus’ sake[25]. Moses left riches to obey God[26]. Paul was hungry and suffered[27]. Even Jesus was poor[28]. The Bible doesn’t blame them for being poor. Instead, it teaches about them being rich in God, which means they inherited eternal life[29]. Their responses to their problems teach us to be faithful[30]. Riches and poverty aren’t always a direct result of our relationship with God.
2. Suffering is part of being a Christian[31].
Amidst the problems God helps, keeps, shapes and teaches us to depend on Him[32].
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world – John 16.33
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God – Acts 14.22
3. Our purpose is to glorify God
The purpose of our lives is to glorify God by being like Him through the Saviour Jesus[33]. That is what we must strive for, not to be rich. Don’t be self-centred, but God-centred.
Supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself – 1 Timothy 6.5b
For the love of money is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6.10a
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth – Matthew 6.19a
4. Jesus is the only Mediator
There is no such thing of people having more access to God than others. Through Jesus, the only Mediator, every Christian may boldly pray to God[34]. We may ask others to pray for us, but we don’t depend on them to mediate between God and us.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus – 1 Timothy 2.5
Jesus’ mediation is for free. It’s a gift[35]. We must support faithful spiritual leaders[36], but those who are focussed on being paid for their services are often too concerned about their material wellbeing.
5. We must read the Bible in its context.
It is tempting to explain and apply Bible verses according to our understanding and to our advantage. But if we want to know what God says to us, we must read the Bible carefully, for example by looking at the verses previous and after that specific text. Some examples:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God – Romans 8.28a. Based on this verse speaking about good, we may think that God wants His people to always prosper. But if we read the next verse in the same chapter, we discover that God speaks about the good of becoming like Jesus. God causes His people to become like Jesus, no matter in what circumstances they are[37].
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth – 3 John 1.2. Some people use this verse to show that prosperity and health are the right of every Christian. But if you read carefully, you’ll see that this verse is a prayer (I wish). It is for God to answer the prayer[38]. He is sovereign: He decides what to do[39]. We trust Him to do the best[40].
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made curse for us – Galatians 3.13. Some people say that poverty is a curse and that God’s children, redeemed from poverty, will be blessed with riches. But if we read the next verse in the same chapter we discover that Paul spoke about the blessing of the Holy Spirit, not about wealth[41].
For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap – Galatians 6.7b. Sometimes verses like this one are used to encourage people to give money to God. If we read the context of this verse we discover that God promises eternal blessings, not material blessings. We cannot manipulate God by giving to Him so that He owes us something[42].
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you – Matthew 17.20b. Some say that we only need faith to remove the problems (that are like mountains) from our lives, because we have the power of faith. If you read Matthew 17.14-21 you’ll see that Jesus meant the opposite: we have no power in ourselves. The source of power is not our faith, our words or what we do, but we depend on God[43]. We are not gods to control the universe[44].
We must examine every teaching and preaching. Be steadfast!
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ – Ephesians 4.14 and 15
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[1] 2 Timothy 4.3, Titus 2.1, [2] Ephesians 5.6, Colossians 2.8, Luke 21.8, [3] 2 Peter 2.1, 1 John 4.1, Acts 17.11, [4] Deuteronomy 4.2, Revelation 22.18 and 19, [5] Genesis 1 and 2, [6] Genesis 3, [7] Isaiah 59.2, Ezekiel 39.24, [8] 1 John 4.10, 2 Corinthians 5.18, [9] Mark 1.15, 1 John 5.1, Ezekiel 36.26 and 27, Galatians 3.26, [10] Acts 10.43, Acts 26.18, [11] Romans 8.9, Ezekiel 36.27, [12] John 14.2 and 3, 13] Revelation 21.27, 1 Corinthians 6.9, [14] 1 Corinthians 14.3, Jonah 1.2, [15] Deuteronomy 18.16, Jeremiah 35.15, [16] Matthew 7.20, Philippians 2.15, [17] Titus 1.6-8, 1 Timothy 3.8-13, [18] Jeremiah 28.9, Jeremiah 6.14, [19] 1 Timothy 4.7, Titus 1.14, 1 Timothy 1.4, [20] 1 John 4.14, John 1.14, [21] Ephesians 2.1-10, [22] 1 Timothy 6.10, Mark 10.23-25, Deuteronomy 8.11-15, 1 Timothy 6.19, [23] Mark 12.41-44, [24] Luke 16.20-23, [25] Acts 7.59 and 60, [26] Hebrews 11.24-26, [27] 2 Corinthians 11.23-28, [28] Zechariah 9.9, Matthew 8.18, [29] Luke 12.33, [30] Revelation 2.18-19, [31] 2 Timothy 3.12, Revelation 7.14, 1 Peter 5.9, John 15.20, Philippians 1.29, [32] Hebrews 12.6-10, Romans 5.3 and 4, [33] Matthew 5.16, 1 Peter 2.12, 2 Thessalonians 1.12, Romans 12.1, 2 Corinthians 5.15, Colossians 3.23, [34] John 14.6, Hebrews 9.15, Hebrews 4.14-16, Ephesians 2.18, Ephesians 3.12, Matthew 7.8, [35] Romans 3.24, Romans 4.5, [36] Luke 10.7, [37] 2 Corinthians 3.18, Ephesians 2.10, 2 Peter 1.4, 2 Corinthians 4.16 and 17, [38] Micah 7.7, Job 42.2, Psalm 115.3, [39] Daniel 4.35, [40] Psalm 62.5, Habakkuk 2.3, Psalm 119.68, [41] Galatians 3.14, Ephesians 1.13, Galatians 4.5, [42] Romans 11.35, 1 Chronicles 29.14, Job 41.11, [43] Ephesians 6.10, Philippians 4.13, [44] 2 Thessalonians 2.3 and 4, Deuteronomy 4.39