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It's not that we disagree with the author. It's possible that sharing the stage with a false teacher gives the false teacher credibility. It's also possible that a pastor who does so might end up compromised himself.
But the author's treatment of the topic is superficial. We have these issues:
- What, precisely, is a false teacher? Is it someone who simply has a different opinion about certain doctrines? The Bible tells us a false teacher is an egregious, public sinner, adulterous and manipulative (2 Peter 2:1-22). We should therefore be careful to accuse someone of being a false teacher.
- Related to that is the idea that perfect, pure doctrine is a marker of a true church or a genuine Christian. But this is not God's standard, it's man's.
- How might a pastor "share a stage" with a false teacher? Does it mean inviting a false teacher as a guest preacher? Does it mean attending a non-profit fundraiser where other pastors might be in attendance? Does it mean standing up on stage at the same time and being asked to affirm a false teacher?
- Really, a typical local church is in little danger of doing this. Most local churches keep to themselves, even to the degree that it violates the call to Christian unity. A lot of pastors are territorial. They don't want other churches "stealing" their sheep. They are so concerned about differing opinions and different practices that they isolate themselves out of fear.
- Lastly, one might wonder how a church's pastor, solid in doctrine and mature in faith, leading a discerning, stable church, could end up enticed and compromised by a false teacher and wander off into error. We just don't believe this is very common. We do know that pastors fall with alarming frequency, but these are mostly moral failures where the pastor was unaccountable to anyone. Doctrinal compromise in this scenario is not terribly common.
We should also take note of the author's Scriptural documentation. Very little of it has to do with sharing the stage with false teachers.
Mk. 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."2Ti. 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.Tit. 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.Col. 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
We happen to believe that the true Gospel of Christ is suitable in every situation, and especially among those who have departed from the faith or were never actually saved.)
Either Scripture is truly sufficient, or it isn’t. (Well, this is certainly true, but what does this have to do with the topic?)
You cannot say, “I am going to preach the gospel there,” because we’ve seen that logic used before, and those who tried it were influenced more by false doctrine than anything else. Over time, they also ended up preaching messages not even remotely close to biblical Christianity. (Apparently these solid Bible teachers are actually very weak and easily led astray...)
If you think this is just “my opinion,” read the New Testament again. Nearly every book addresses false doctrine, or warns against false teachers. This is not a secondary matter, nor an area where faithful Christians can simply agree to disagree.
Scriptural Warnings Against Partnering with False Teachers
The Word of God speaks plainly:
If you think this is just “my opinion,” read the New Testament again. Nearly every book addresses false doctrine, or warns against false teachers. This is not a secondary matter, nor an area where faithful Christians can simply agree to disagree.
Scriptural Warnings Against Partnering with False Teachers
The Word of God speaks plainly:
Romans 16:17–18:
“Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” (Context: These are people within the local church, not outside false teachers.)
2 John 9–11:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” (Context: This is about fellowshipping with those who have a teaching different than the apostolic teaching.)
2 Corinthians 6:14–16:
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers… what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (Context: This is not about false teachers, it is about unbelievers.)
1 Timothy 6:3–5:
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (Context: This is a detailed description of false teachers within the local church, but offers no prescription about how to handle them.)
The Sufficiency of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed, profitable, and sufficient to equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We do not need the platforms of false teachers, and we must not legitimize them by sharing their stage. (Oh. So this is not actually about false teachers in your church, it is about going to a false teacher's church? Hmm. Is this some sort of common, ever-present danger?
The Call to Faithful Obedience
All that we need for life and godliness comes from Christ, and from His Word (The author is paraphrasing this verse:
“Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” (Context: These are people within the local church, not outside false teachers.)
2 John 9–11:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” (Context: This is about fellowshipping with those who have a teaching different than the apostolic teaching.)
2 Corinthians 6:14–16:
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers… what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (Context: This is not about false teachers, it is about unbelievers.)
Even if Paul, or an angel from heaven, preaches a different gospel, “let him be accursed.” (Context: Almost the whole of the book of Galatians is dealing with Judaizers who were turning people to following the law again. There is nothing here about sharing the stage with false teachers.)
1 Timothy 6:3–5:
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (Context: This is a detailed description of false teachers within the local church, but offers no prescription about how to handle them.)
After a first and second warning, “have nothing more to do with” the divisive person, knowing he is warped, sinful, and self-condemned. (Context: This is not about false teachers, but rather people in this local church who are arguing about unprofitable things.)
The call is consistent, and clear: shepherds must protect the flock (Acts 20:28–30), false teachers bring swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1–3), and believers must contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3-4).
The call is consistent, and clear: shepherds must protect the flock (Acts 20:28–30), false teachers bring swift destruction (2 Peter 2:1–3), and believers must contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3-4).
The Sufficiency of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed, profitable, and sufficient to equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We do not need the platforms of false teachers, and we must not legitimize them by sharing their stage. (Oh. So this is not actually about false teachers in your church, it is about going to a false teacher's church? Hmm. Is this some sort of common, ever-present danger?
But more to the point, this is the second time the author has referenced sufficiency, again without explanation or context. What is this about?)
Jesus says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Following Christ means counting the cost (Luke 9:23–27; 14:25–33), denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and obeying His Word without compromise, qualification, or clever exceptions or “qualifications.”
Jesus says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Following Christ means counting the cost (Luke 9:23–27; 14:25–33), denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and obeying His Word without compromise, qualification, or clever exceptions or “qualifications.”
The Call to Faithful Obedience
All that we need for life and godliness comes from Christ, and from His Word (The author is paraphrasing this verse:
2Pe. 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Obviously this verse is not about "His Word," it's "His divine power." We are beginning to question the author's competence.)
not from worldly fads, borrowed platforms, or human opinions. If you dismiss Scripture’s teaching here, say so plainly, but do not claim faithfulness while disobeying what God has clearly revealed. (Maybe it's just us, but it seems the author is reading into the cited verses his supposed prohibition about sharing platforms.)
Christ calls us to follow Him fully, to obey His Word entirely, and to guard His flock from wolves. The cost of obedience may be high, but the cost of compromise is greater confusion for the church, corruption of the gospel message, and compromise of the mission of the Church.
Dear Christian, hold the line, steward your influence in a godly and biblical way, and trust the sufficiency of God’s Word. (Reference #3 to "sufficiency." What exactly is the deal here? We are no genuinely curious about this unstated agenda the author has.)
For more from Contending for the Word please visit: Contending for the Word | Biblical Discernment & Cultural Clarity
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
Christ calls us to follow Him fully, to obey His Word entirely, and to guard His flock from wolves. The cost of obedience may be high, but the cost of compromise is greater confusion for the church, corruption of the gospel message, and compromise of the mission of the Church.
Dear Christian, hold the line, steward your influence in a godly and biblical way, and trust the sufficiency of God’s Word. (Reference #3 to "sufficiency." What exactly is the deal here? We are no genuinely curious about this unstated agenda the author has.)
For more from Contending for the Word please visit: Contending for the Word | Biblical Discernment & Cultural Clarity
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
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