Seven Characteristics of False Teachers by Thomas Brooks

'The prophets make my people to err.' Mic 3 v 5

In his book 'Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices' Thomas Brooks gives us so many helpful remedies to use in the Christian life as we battle against sin.  The Puritans were masterful surgeons of the soul and if you are new to the Puritans, please buy a Puritan paperback and try and read a page or two per day and you will see your Christian life being deepened and enriched.  

At the end of his book he has a short section on the seven characteristics of false teachers which seem so relevant today.  They need very little introduction or explanation.

1. False teachers are men pleasers.

'Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things; speak to us smooth things: prophesy deceits.' Isa 30 v 10.

'False teachers are hell's greatest enrichers.  Not bitter, but flattering words do all the mischief, said Valerian, the Roman emperor.  Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners.' Thomas Brooks

2. False teachers are notable in casting dirt, scorn and reproach upon the person, names and credits of Christ's most faithful ambassadors.  

• Think of Korah, Dathan and Abiram in Num 16 v 3
• Ahab's false prophets turning on Micaiah (1 Kings 22 v 10-26)
• How the false teachers persecuted Paul (2 Cor 10 v 10)

'Oh! the dirt, the filth, the scorn that is thrown upon those of whom the world is not worthy.' Thomas Brooks

3. False teachers are venters of the devices and visions of their own heads and hearts.

'Then the Lord said unto me. The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceiit of their heart.' Jer14 v 14.

'Are there not multitudes in this nation whose visions are but golden delusions, lying vanities, brain sick fantasies?' Thomas Brooks

4. False teachers easily pass over the great and weighty things of both of law and gospel, and stand most upon those things that are the least moment and concernment to the souls of men.  

'The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.' 1 Timothy 1 v 5-7

'False teachers are nice in the lesser things of the law, and as negligent in the greater.'  Thomas Brooks

5. False teachers cover and colour their dangerous principles and soul impostures with very fair speeches and plausible pretenses, with high notions and golden expressions.

'Many in these days are bewitched and deceived by the magnificent words, lofty strains, and stately terms of deceivers, viz, illumination, revelation, deification, and fiery triplicity.' Thomas Brooks

6.  False teachers strive more to win over men to their opinions, than to better them in their conversations.

'But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.' Matt 23 v 13-15

'Their work is not to better men's hearts, and mend their lives; and in this they are very much like their father the devil, who will spare no pains to gain proselytes.' Thomas Brooks

7. False teachers make merchandise of their followers.

'But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.' 2 Peter 2 v 1-3

'Now the best way to deliver poor souls from being deluded and destroyed by these messengers of Satan is, to discover them in their colours, that so, being known, poor souls may shun them, and fly from them as hell itself.' Thomas Brooks

The greatest remedy against false teachers is to keep our eyes on Christ.  It was when the Israelites despaired of Moses (their mediator) coming down from Mount Sinai that they turned to false teachers and idols.  Sin makes us stupid.  Imagine trading the transcendent, merciful Jehovah for a golden bull?  Just take a look at so many churches today.  We have thrown aside the true worship of God and we want men to tickle our ears and entertain us.  Men are no longer content with the simple gospel.  

We need to know and love Christ and his word if we are to see clearly through the false teachers in Scotland today.  How we desperately need to put Christ and his precious word back in the centre of our worship services.  For more on the priority of the word read this. 

'Thy work. sinner, is to be peremptory (urgent) in believing, and in returning to the Lord; thy work is to cast thyself upon Christ, lie at his feet, to wait on him in his ways; and to give him no rest till he shall say, Sinner I am thy portion, I am thy salvation, and nothing shall separate between me and thee.' Thomas Brooks