PAVEL HANES

FALSE TEACHINGS IN THE CHURCH TODAY

Follow Christ
Nové Zámky, 21st October 2017

Jude 1:3-4 VAgaphtoi,( pa/san spoudh.n Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, although I was very eager
poiou,menoj gra,fein u`mi/n peri. th/j koinh/j h`mw/n to write to you about our common salvation, I
swthri,aj avna,gkhn e;scon gra,yai u`mi/n found it necessary to write appealing to you to
parakalw/n evpagwni,zesqai th/| a[pax paradoqei,sh| contend for the faith that was once for all
toi/j a`gi,oij pi,steiÅ 4 pareise,dusan ga,r tinej delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have
a;nqrwpoi( oi` pa,lai progegramme,noi eivj tou/to to. crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated
kri,ma( avsebei/j( th.n tou/ qeou/ h`mw/n ca,rita for this condemnation, ungodly people, who
metatiqe,ntej eivj avse,lgeian kai. to.n mo,non pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and
despo,thn kai. ku,rion h`mw/n VIhsou/n Cristo.n
deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.,
avrnou,men
ynIQEn: tArT's.NmI I !ybiy"-ymi tAaygIv. Ps 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me
innocent from hidden faults.

OUTLINE

0. INTRODUCTION: FALSE TEACHINGS, SECTS & CULTS

0.1. DANGERS
0.2. SOME BASIC DISTINCTIONS
0.3. HERESIES “IN” THE CHURCH AND “OUTSIDE” THE CHURCH
0.4. THE “SINE QUA NON” OF CHRISTIANITY
1. COMMON MARKS OF CULTS
1.1. THE TRINITY
1.2. THE CROSS
1.3. THE BIBLE
1.4. FAITH AND HOLINESS
2. THE MAIN CONTEMPORARY DEVIATIONS FROM BIBLICAL DOCTRINE
2.1. ANTHROPOCENTRICSM
2.2. INDIVIDUALISM
2.3. SCIENTISM
2.4. SECULARISM (SECULARISED ESCHATOLOGY)
3. TO REMEMBER

0. INTRODUCTION: FALSE TEACHINGS, SECTS & CULTS

0.1. DANGERS
 To recognize the fake we have to study closely the genuine thing, and not to focus too much
attention to the fake…
 Focusing on the false teachings may itself become a false teaching (negativity; judgmental; self-
centered…)
 LLOYD-JONES Revival (“Dead Orthodoxy”)1
I think that the word that sums up this condition most perfectly is the word contentment. I hesitate to use

1
series of messages on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the Welsh Revival which occurred in
1859
2 False Teachings in the Church Today
the word smugness, but perhaps we could put the two together and say a smug contentment. Now, by that
expression I mean something like this: it is the condition of people who believe the truth, and know that
they believe the truth. There is no question about that. You question them, you catechise them, and you
will find that they are correct and orthodox. There is no fault to be found with their creed, or with their
belief. But there is this element of contentment about it because they not only believe these things but are
satisfied with themselves – self-satisfied.
 G. K. CHESTERTON Heretics → being proud of being heretical
[CHESTERTON p. 12] The word *' heresy" not only means no longer being wrong; it practically means
being clear-headed and courageous. The word "orthodoxy" not only no longer means being right; it
practically means being wrong. All this can mean one thing, and one thing only. It means that people
care less for whether they are philosophically right.

0.2. SOME BASIC DISTINCTIONS

0.2.1. SECT, CULT, RELIGION
 “sect” → Max WEBER sociological definition: sect (voluntary organization) as opposed to church
(non-voluntary);
[Evangelical Dictionary of Theology] A group whose identity partially consists of belonging to a larger
social body, typically a religious body. The sect's identity is further derived from its principal leader or
from a distinctive teaching or practice. The term has regularly been applied to groups that break away
from existing religious bodies, such as the early Christians who separated from Judaism or the Protestants
who separated from Roman Catholicism. The term has also been. applied to such groups as maintain
their identity without separating from the larger religious body, for example, the Pharisees among the
Jews or the Puritans in the Church of England.
 → biblical – Titus 3:10 As for a person (ai`retiko.n a;nqrwpon) who stirs up division, after
warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
 → 1Co 11:19 …there must be factions (dei/ ga.r kai. ai`re,seij evn u`mi/n ei=nai() among you in
order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized
 [ELLICOTT] “In neither case, however, does the word seem to imply specially ' the open
espousal of ahy fundamental error”
 [LACOSTE] Catholic canon law (Code of Canon Law 1983, c. 751) heresy is a baptized
person’s obstinate denial (or doubting) of any truth of faith.
 “cult” → a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious also: its body of adherents (voodoo; satanic
cult) “Drug addiction and cult membership are striking in their similarities”2
0.2.2. TEACHINGS ↔ TEACHERS
 distinguishing false teachings (errors in doctrines) from the false teachers (deliberate deceivers) Tit
3:10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing
more to do with him, (ai`retiko.n a;nqrwpon meta. mi,an kai. deute,ran nouqesi,an paraitou/)
 a defective teaching is not necessarily false teaching (Acts 18:26 – Apollo)
0.2.3. CONTENT ↔ METHODS
 recognizing false teachings by contents (doctrines)
recognizing false teachings by methods (leadership) “What makes them a cult is the fact that they
 use mind control, not what they believe.”3

CULTS AND MENTAL MANIPULATION Addiction and Dependence, — Brainwashing, —

Catastrophism and Millenarianism, — Money-Making Schemes,
HOW CULTS ARE ORGANIZED The Pyramid, — The Network, — Group Dynamics, — Magical
Thought, — The Guru-Father, — Seduction — Alienation, — Dependence on Authority, — Sexuality,
— Deprivation of One’s Own — Imitation, — Food Deprivation, — Sleep Deprivation, — Compulsory
Labor, — Chemical Use, Paranoia, (ABGRALL, J.-M. Soul Snatchers)
 “…basic respect for the individual simply doesn't exist, and people are gradually led to think and

2
ABGRALL, J.-M. Soul Snatchers, p. 17
3
http://www.cultwatch.com/howcultswork.html (16-Oct-17)
 False Teachings in the Church Today. 3

behave in very similar ways through a process of mind control.”… it—"mind control" may be
understood as a system of influences that disrupts an individual's identity (beliefs, behavior,
thinking, and emotions) and replaces it with a new identity 4
0.3. HERESIES “IN” THE CHURCH AND “OUTSIDE” THE CHURCH
0.3.1. OUTSIDE
 the church → cults; sects; religions (non-Christian belief systems)


[TIBBOTT Julie Members Only] eg. The Bilderberg Group; The Bizango; Branch Davidians; Club 33; The
Freemasons; The Ghost Club; The Hellfire Club; The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn; The
Illuminati; The Knights Templar; The Lily Dale Assembly; The Machine; The Magic Castle; The Order
of the Star Spangled Banner/Know Nothings; Peoples Temple (Jonestown); Rosicrucianism; Skull and
Bones Society; La Santa Muerte; The Thule Society; The Society for Creative Anachronis;
 occultism; fortune telling; astrology; witchcraft…
 conspiracy theories…
0.3.2. “INSIDE”
 the church → dangerous tendencies, that lead away from the centre towards (1) unbiblical
doctrines, (2) unbiblical living
 ENROTH, Ronald M. Churches that Abuse (Contents)5

0.4. THE “SINE QUA NON” OF CHRISTIANITY

0.4.1. JESUS CHRIST – THE LIFE-GIVING CONNECTION
 The spiritual union with Jesus is not completely co-existence with the orthodox beliefs…
0.4.2. THE DOCTRINES NECESSARY FOR SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS
 (1) The Triune God, the Absolute Creator, the Just Judge, the Loving Father; The Son of God,
incarnate Jahve, One substance with the Father and distinct person; The Holy Spirit, God working
in all the acts of the Triune God for revelation, keeping and salvation of creation
 (2) The Bible, the revelation from God, inspired authority, guidance for our thinking

4
HASSAN, S. Combatting Cult Mind Control, p. 7.
5
Zondervan, 1992.
4 False Teachings in the Church Today

 (3) The Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the final judgment and salvation offered to
mankind
 (4) Faith as a gift from God, spiritual and rational surrender to the sovereign will of God for
salvation and life

1. COMMON MARKS OF CULTS

 Dave Breese: Know the Marks of Cults:6

 → false teachings closer to biblical orthodoxy (more dangerous; more important to recognize)
 → unreliable exegesis
1.1. THE TRINITY
 rationalizing; vestigia trinitatis; speculations…
1.1.1. GOD – THE FATHER
 the attributes of God → study! the Bible, the doctrine and the dogma… do not speculate in some
less than serious manner!
 problems related to Theodicy (the justice and goodness of God) → atheism (“out” of the church)
 Open Theism → denying omniscience → still “in” the church???
1.1.2. GOD – THE SON
 denying divinity → arianism (“outside” the church)
 Jesus Seminar (“scientific” methods of biblical criticism)
 DaVinci Code (Dan BROWN) → Gnostic Gospels (The Gospel of Judas)
 the difference between the love of God the Father and the love of God the Son…
 defective understanding of our relationship to Jesus (rationalistic; meritorious…)
1.1.3. GOD – THE HOLY SPIRIT
 denying personality of the Holy Spirit
 “forgetting” the Holy Spirit → powerless Christianity
 emphasizing the Spirit at the expence of Jesus the Crucified
1.2. THE CROSS
 …is only “an example” (salvation through sacrificial living)
 …is only “expression of sympathy” (love; compassion; commiseration…)
 …was tragedy that was not in God’s original plan
1.3. THE BIBLE
 biblical criticism → (1) rejection of biblical authority, (2) valid only for faith and practice,
(3) Bible plus science option (4) plus spiritual experience
 formalism → knowledge without spiritual understanding (John 3:3 "Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.")
 extra-biblical revelations ()
 expounding prophecies [predicting Parousia → Dispensationalism]

6
Victor Books, 1975.
 False Teachings in the Church Today. 5

1.4. FAITH AND HOLINESS

1.4.1. FAITH, WORKS, JUSTIFICATION
 libertinism ([rational] faith is enough vs. justification by faith alone)
 legalism → justification by works, or by Jesus’ cross PLUS some meritorious work (Galatians)
 N.T. WRIGHT Justification ↔ John PIPER discussion7 → the questions Piper asks:
The Gospel Is Not about How to Get Saved?
Justification Is Not How You Become a Christian?
Justification Is Not the Gospel?
We Are Not Justified by Believing in Justification?
Future Justification Is on the Basis of the Complete Life Lived?
First-century Judaism Had Nothing of the Alleged Self-Righteous and Boastful Legalism?
God’s Righteousness Is the Same as His Covenant Faithfulness?
1.4.2. FAITH MISINTERPRETED AND ABUSED
 miracles as a condition of genuine faith in Jesus/salvation
 faith as DEPENDENCE → manipulation by leaders → shepherding movement;
 faith as INDEPENDENCE → self-help literature (psycho-theology)

7
PIPER, J. The Future of Justification, Wheaton : Crossway Books, 2007.
6 False Teachings in the Church Today

2. THE MAIN CONTEMPORARY DEVIATIONS FROM BIBLICAL DOCTRINE

 contrary tendencies in contemporary [evangelical] church
 (1) libertinism ↔ legalism (immorality vs. judmental attitudes)
 (2) ecumenism ↔ fundamentalism (sacrificing truth vs. narrow-minded denominational
chauvinism)
 (3) individualism ↔ formalism (chaos of lively disorder vs. deadly uniformity)
 (4) emotionalism ↔ intellectualism (shallow feelings vs. dry endless explanations)

 contemporary Zeitgeist → (1) Anthropocentrism, (2) Individualism, (3) Scientism, (4) Secularised
Eschatology [→ Secularism]
2.1. ANTHROPOCENTRICSM
 Emerging Church (MACLAREN Generous Orthodoxy, New Kind of Christian; Rob BELL Love
Wins; Velvet Elvis…)
 Positive Thinking (Vincent Norman PEALE)
 Possibility Thinking Robert SCHULLER “I call it possibility thinking. Others call it faith.”
→ never verbalize negative emotions!
 Psycho-Theology (JUNG) dangers of occultism…
[ANKERBERG & WELDON The Coming Darkness] …people who think they are only developing mental
powers that are fundamentally natural need to consider that their perspective is contradicted by occult
history, religious tradition, the lives of participants themselves, and even standard dictionary definitions
of the term “occult,” which all emphasize its supernatural nature.
 feminist-; black-; liberation-; gender-… theology → centred in an analysis at variance with the
biblical analysis of human situation…
2.2. INDIVIDUALISM
 selfism (“God-for-me” heresy)
 experience-based charismatism → exegeting/expounding the Bible in the light of one’s own
personal experience → we can coin a new word “EXPERIENCISM”… [apologies!]
 SCHULLER – “Self-esteem – the New Reformation”
[SCHULLER] “Self-esteem then, or “pride in being a human being,” is the single greatest need facing the
human race today. I strongly suggest that self-love is the ultimate will of man that what you really want
more than anything else in the world is the awareness that you are a worthy person. Do not fear pride:
the easiest job God has is to humble us. God’s almost impossible task is to keep us believing every hour
of every day how great we are as his sons and daughters on planet earth.”8
 “Jesus yes, the church no” attitude.
2.3. SCIENTISM
2.3.1. SCIENCE IN APOLOGETICS
 determinism & evolutionism → making away with mystery (no mystery  no worship)
 theo-evolution → pantheism/panentheism (Genesis 1&2 is about Shabbat and Marriage!)
2.3.2. FAITH MOVEMENT
 “name it, claim it” → manipulating God;
 the power of human word ↔ the power of GOD’S WORD
2.3.3. SCIENCE OF THE “CHURCH GROWTH”
 looking for the ultimate methods → guaranteed success…
 treating church as a corporation/company/society… (leadership doctrines/methods)
 Purpose Driven (Rich WARREN)

8
quoted: www.equip.org\PDF\DS210.pdf\
 False Teachings in the Church Today. 7

 Church Growth mvmt → megachurches (the keyword: methods)

2.4. SECULARISM (SECULARISED ESCHATOLOGY)
 the ultimate meaning of life is to be found on this side of eternity
 religion is good/important/useful for this life here on earth → the ultimate meaning of life
 Prosperity Gospel → “Health&Wealth” gospel
 entertainment as “worship”
 “visual” faith → depending on eye-perception

3. TO REMEMBER
 The closer to orthodoxy, the greater the danger od deception. (the “dead orthodoxy” heresy)
 Know the absolute basics of Christianity (the sine qua non of the Christian faith), live them out in
the Holy Spirit! His witness is the only safe guarantee of being alive IN CHRIST.
 Be informed about the Zeitgeist and expect its manifestations in the church! Christians carry the
problems they have had in the world to the church.