What are some characteristics of false teachers? False teachers are “hypocritical liars.” What they teach doesn’t match what they practice. Believers must not believe every person that carries a bible. The Bible is true, but even Satan quotes the Bible. We must search and know scripture to be able to identify false teachers. False teachers have seared consciences. When one has a seared conscience, they have no feeling of right or wrong, just as scorched flesh has no sense. A seared conscience can not discern the difference between truth and lies. False teachers ordered people to abstain from certain foods. False teachers forbid marriages. Read what 1 Timothy 4:3b-5 says about food and marriage.
Paul contrasts false teachers with faithful servants. Read 1 Timothy 4: 6-10. Ministers must be willing to point out and confront false teaching. One must find a way to engage the false teaching within the culture they are ministering to. Think of it as a wolf destroying a sheep; this is what a false teacher does to believers.
Faithful leaders are good role models. Paul sent Timothy to lead a church where most of the men were older than him. In this culture of the time, most people respected older people than the younger ones. How will Timothy lead this church? He would have to lead by example. Here are some areas of an excellent model for a faith leader to have.
In speech – Faithful leaders must avoid arguments. Their words must be honest and loving. A faithful leader’s words should be pure, wholesome, edifying. In conduct – Christian leaders live the truth as well a speak it. They allow God’s Word and God’s Spirit to control their lives. In love – False teachers abandoned love. As faithful leaders, we should live our lives as Jesus’ words about love. In faith – Faithful believers trust God and are devoted to Him. In Purity – Ephesus was a center of sexual impurity. Faithful believers must be models of holiness and purity.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that each of us believers will be an excellent example of what it means to be a believer, even if not called to be a minister.
In Jesus Name
Amen
