Beth-El Baptist Church

05/22/2011

Greg Tomlinson


What should we do if our pastor or teacher is teaching incorrectly?


With Mr. Harold Camping's prediction of judgment day on May 21, 2011 clearly proven wrong there will be many people wondering what do they do now?


  1. What should be done when prophets (proclaimers of God's Word) of God are proven wrong?

Deuteronomy 18:16-22 Deuteronomy 13:1-4

Luke 9:35 Acts 3:22-24


God has raised up many “prophets” of sorts over the centuries. These are the people who bring to the masses the very words of God. When someone claims to be speaking for God is proved to be wrong, such as prophecies that do not come true or calls to follow another God, then in this day of grace, we need to quit listening to such a man. Ultimately, God promised to raise up a unique prophet from among the people of Israel. This He has done in the person of Jesus. As people of God, we need to first follow what Jesus has told us.


  1. What is my responsibility when my pastor or teacher is teaching wrong doctrine?

Matthew 18:15-17 1 Timothy 5:17-19

Galatians 2:11-16 Titus 3:8-11

Revelation 2:20-25 2 Thessalonians 3:6

1 Corinthians 5:12-13


As a Christian, you need to privately and discretely expose the error to your pastor or teacher and show them from the scriptures, the source of all truth, where they are wrong and what they need to do. Since this is a pastor or teacher, you need to have multiple witnesses who have observed the same thing. After sharing with the pastor or teacher his error and he refuses to accept the reality of his error, bring others into the discussion and finally public exposure. It is also necessary to make sure that the error being taught is an actual error (virgin birth, divinity, death for sin, date for Christ's return, women preachers, etc.) and not a matter of opinion or speculation (pre-tribulation rapture, millennial kingdom on earth, Catholic Pope as the beast of revelation, etc.). If necessary, you might need to seek after another congregation. In our current age, there is likely to be at least one church that teaches appropriate doctrine and the truthfulness of the Word of God, seek out such a church and minister there. If there is no such church, then find the best that you can and “hold fast till [Jesus] comes” (Rev 2:25).


  1. What should be done to evaluate new or other pastors and teachers?

Acts 17:10-11 2 Timothy 2:15-16

1 John 4:1 Isaiah 28:10


As Christians, we need to study the scriptures and evaluate what our pastor or teacher may be telling us. Only by knowing what is true (the scriptures – John 17:17; Jesus John 14:6) are we able to recognize erroneous teaching and cease following it.