This booklet examines some of the false teachings in the church today. We state at the outset that we are careful to distinguish false teachings from false teachers. We do not say those listed herein are necessarily false teachers, but we are pointing out they are teaching false ideas. For us a false teacher is one who knows the truth and has deliberately turned away from it. On the other hand, false teaching is a mixture of truth and error. Thus, people may at the same time be encouraged and nourished by some things that are true but unknowingly accept error along with it. Unfortunately, sometimes even a small amount of error may be dangerous. Ninety-eight percent of rat poison is wholesome food. Only two percent is deadly.
    In approaching this topic, we have been reminded of the illustration of Apollos in the book of Acts. There we are told that Priscilla and Aquila "took [Apollos] aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately@ (Acts 18:26). Apparently Apollos was inadequately instructed in the things of God and therefore was teaching error without realizing it. However, he was willing to listen to their counsel even though he was highly esteemed and considered a great teacher in the church. As a result, both he and the church were greatly profited (verses 27 and 28).
    We should hope that some of our highly-esteemed Christian teachers would also listen to counsel and that, as a result, the church would be greatly profited.
    In examining false teachings in the church, we, along with all other Christians, recognize that God has given us His Word, the Bible. All of us agree the Bible is an objective test, an absolute standard, for dividing truth from error. If we or anyone else interprets that standard wrong, then we are wrong, and the standard itself informs us we are wrong. We are not free to change the Bible. What matters is what God has said. The authority of God's Word stands over us and speaks truth to us. And God tells us to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints@ (Jude 3).
    This is why God emphasizes the importance of personal study in His Word - so we can learn that standard thoroughly (2^nd Timothy 2:15; 3:14). God said that the noble-minded Bereans "examined the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so@ (Acts 17:10,11). Our responsibility before Christ is to also "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil@ (1^st Thessalonians 5:21,22).
    Bible teachers should be aware of their responsibilities to God to teach the Bible accurately. James says, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly@ (James 3:1). This warning is necessary because Paul referred to some in the church who were "teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain@ (Titus 1:11).
    We should not suppose that the errors taught in part of the body of Christ will never affect the rest of the body of Christ. As a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough, in the same way the error of a teacher can be picked up and spread in many directions. The directions it takes are often unpredictable and surprising.
    We should also realize that some of the teachings errors of today are really unchallenged errors of yesterday. And rarely will the church reap what it sows in the same season. Thus, the very problems that we address in this booklet are themselves the results of the sins of yesterday, and unless we repent, they will lead to problems for us all tomorrow. If the body of Christ, the church, is in some sense an organic unity, then what happens to one of us, in some way, affects all of us (Romans 12:5; 1^st Corinthians 12:26).
    Joshua Chapter 7 provides a frightening illustration of how God has held His people collectively responsible. In this chapter Israel was unexpectedly defeated in her attempt to conquer Ai. God said that the problem was, "The sons of Israel acted unfaithfully@ (Joshua 7:1). But only one man had done wrong and stolen the gold items under the divine ban. Yet in God's eyes all of Israel had sinned. "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. . .@ (Joshua 7:11-13).
    The responsibility of the entire nation was called into account for allowing the conditions which permitted the transgression to begin with. Now let us apply this illustration to the church. If we allow false teaching to be taught in the church and do not correct it, we will all suffer for it. But there is a solution. If we place God first - not men, or their ministries or their worldly philosophies and theologies, but God first - His Word and His glory - then God will spare us His discipline (1^st Peter 4:17). If we repent, God will bless us.
 

1. Do the claims of the Bible, Christian psychology and secular psychology conflict?
 

    To answer this question we must ask, "What does secular psychology claim, and what does Christianity claim?" First, secular psychology may be briefly defined as the study of why people are the way they are and how they change. But does this definition seem to invade an area the Bible claims is its domain? Please examine the claims of each category listed in the chart below.
 

(1) Has God given His instructions for life?
(2) What is the way or method to treat man's problems or the approach to therapy?
(3) What is the extent of the Bible's authority?
(4) What is the priority and value given to each of knowledge?
(5) Who knows man best?
 

    One of the major issues here appears to be this: Are most Christian psychologists replacing biblical counseling with psychotherapies of questionable value? And if so, what are the consequences for the church at Large?

John Ankerberg & John Weldon