Recognizing False Teachers: A Guide for Church Members

With the spiritual landscape changing faster than ever before, it is important to develop a critical eye to distinguish between genuine teachers of the gospel and fraudsters seeking to sow confusion and lead sheep astray. This blog post is aimed at equipping you to recognize false preachers and teachers and hold on to genuine biblical doctrine. 

Recognizing False Teachers: A Guide for Church Members

 In an age when more information (and disinformation) is readily available than ever before, what can you do to protect yourselves from false preachers and teachers? Here are a few practical suggestions and guidelines to help you recognize counterfeit preachers.

1. Examine Their Doctrine Against Scripture

 The most important initial step is to measure the words of any preacher or teacher against the Bible. False teachers typically distort pieces of scriptural texts to their advantage or interpret them out of context. Church members should:

Regularly read and study the Bible to understand its core messages.

Be on guard against interpretations that appear to contradict the general tenor of Scripture—such as those that reduce it to a mere tool for personal prosperity or self-advancement and fail to address the spiritual depths and accountability that must always accompany such blessings. 

2. Assess Their Lifestyle and Conduct

 A false prophet’s lifestyle is a mirror of his or her true spiritual condition: ‘A teacher’s life will often show whether they walk straight with God or not. Be on your guard against any teacher whose lifestyle is full of obviously sensual indulgence, haughtiness, lack of integrity or moral wisdom.’ Members should take note.


Whether their personal and financial dealings are transparent and ethical.

 If their lifestyle is too extravagant, and especially if it appears to have been funded by the church or its members.

3. Consider Their Accountability Structures

 Healthy religious organisations have leaders who are accountable to others in the community, reducing the potential for absolute power leading to corruption. If you suspect a false teacher, ask yourself:

 If it is a leader of the church who is accountable to a board or to a similar body within the church.

If they discourage questions or dissent regarding their teachings or decisions.

 Whether they respond to criticism with angry defensiveness or humility. 

4. Analyze Their Teaching on Core Christian Doctrines

Sometimes, false teachers will make outright denials of elements of core Christian doctrines. But more often, they will deviate in a more subtle way. Pay attention to teachings that:

Deny the deity of Christ.

Undermine the importance of faith in salvation.

Distort the gospel to accommodate cultural or popular trends that contradict biblical teachings.

5. Observe Their Impact on Followers

What sort of influence does a leader have on his followers? One way to know whether someone is a false teacher is to see to what extent he makes his followers dependent on him for their well-being rather than encouraging them to grow spiritually and to have a personal relationship with God. Look at this:

If the teacher’s followers are encouraged to study Scripture independently.

Whether the followers are growing in grace, love, and understanding.

If there is a culture of fear or manipulation within the community.

It takes a careful eye to spot false preachers and teachers, wisdom to discern their claims, and engagement with the teachings of Christ and Scripture to make sure that the leader is truly guiding disciples in the right way. Encouraging church members to be fully informed about biblical doctrine, and paying attention to the way leaders live and whether they are held to account, as well as the fruit or influence they have on the community, can help them avoid the dangers of false doctrine and stay true to Christ. Let’s commit to be discerning disciples, helping to form a faith that is both deep and real.

I hope this short series opens your eyes to false teachers out there and helps you discern anyone you listen to or read from.

In Love,

Pastor Jody