Benny Hinn, one of the wealthiest televangelists there is, known for his prosperity gospel teaching recently made a U-turn by admitting he had been wrong in his theology---again. For some people, the verdict is still out if he is sincere this time. Whether he is or not, is not the subject of this article but it reminded me of a friend who wanted to know about this popular preacher because her sister attends his megachurch.

“It’s hard to say because I don’t know personally what he teaches. I hear he has a book. If your sister has a copy to lend me, I’ll go through it. I don’t want to spend money on it if it turns out that he is.” A few days later, I’m reading his book and was quickly done with it, highlighting all that raised my eyebrows, and writing down my counter-arguments in the margins.

“So what do you think?” my friend asked.

“From what I can glean, he is someone who grew up with right doctrines but has let external forces influence him that he ended up with his self-contradicting chopsuey theology. He has not totally abandoned the fundamentals but I sense he likes questioning convention and introduce his way of thinking.”

“What should I tell my sister? She was offended when I told her he’s a false teacher.”

“Well, since you already told her that…”

A few weeks later, I receive the same question about the same preacher from another friend.

I do not wish to engage in a hobby of calling people false teachers as that might become a full-time occupation with names to be added on a daily basis. What is less daunting (and less susceptible to a lawsuit) is to list down what makes for a false teacher and see if the shoe fits. False teachers come and go as the Bible says they are to be expected but their red flags never fade in color. Jude 1 gives us the dead giveaways.

“For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. (v.4a, NIV)

False teachers don’t come announcing they are such. They don’t arrive and immediately grab the stage. They will first mix in with the crowd and make friends. They slowly develop a fan base of sorts since they tend to be personable, popular, and persuasive. They are also manipulative which will only be manifested when they have enough followers.

“They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality” (v.4b, NIV)

False teachers encourage the abuse of God’s grace and goodness by teaching, “It’s okay to do this and that since we are all forgiven or God will forgive us anyway.”

 "and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (v.4c, NIV)

This is the biggest red flag of any false teacher. Anybody who presents Jesus as anything but is false. And let me add to that, anybody who teaches that the God of the Old Testament is not the same God of the New Testament is likewise false. We do not worship a schizophrenic God nor a God who changes (Heb. 13:8).  

“reject authority.” (v.8b NIV)

False teachers follow no one else but themselves. They will reject anything and anybody to whom they need to be accountable to. They are their own authority. What they say goes even superseding the authority of the Word

“Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand,” (v.10, NIV)

False teachers will not and cannot stand being criticized. When confronted, they will deny it and instead of addressing the issue, they will do and say anything to deflect it which includes maligning their confronters.

“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” (v.11, NIV)

False teachers may come in different shapes and sizes but their tactics are always the same: they are as jealous as Cain who refused to worship God on His terms, their services carry a price tag usually disguised as donations like Balaam, and they are hungry for power and position like Korah.

“These people are grumblers and faultfinders;” (v.16a, NIV)

 False teachers always have something negative to say about others especially their critics…

 "They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.” (v.16b, NIV)

…but they always give themselves high marks and will shower praises to people whom they can use for their advantage. But make no mistake, it’s all about them. They’re the only show in town.

This criteria is applicable not just to leaders of a large church but even to a bible study group of three.

When a leader starts exhibiting at least one, apply the Matthew 18 principle or remove yourself from that place. But if it’s yourself, repent before it’s too late. As John MacArthur says, “The hottest place in hell is reserved for those false teachers who distort the gospel of Christ and drag others down into the pit below.”