Another harmful practice that we can add to the list of things that hurt the Lord’s church is providing a public platform to preachers and teachers who teach error. This practice has taken place in some congregations where men who hold and promote teachings contrary to the Word of God are invited to preach, teach Bible classes, participate in lectureships, gospel meetings, seminars, and other public events.
This matter must be taken very seriously because God has always required His people to be careful with false teaching and with those who promote it. The church cannot treat doctrinal error as though it were an insignificant matter.
The Church Must Distinguish Between Truth and Error
The Bible clearly teaches that not every religious teaching is acceptable before God. Jesus warned:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Christ did not teach us simply to listen to everyone and accept their teachings. On the contrary, He exhorted us to be careful and to recognize false teachers.
John also wrote:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
Therefore, the church has the responsibility to examine, test, and discern what is being taught. We should not assume that a man teaches the truth simply because he is a good preacher, has many years of experience, is well known, possesses an excellent education, or speaks very eloquently.
Paul said:
“Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Bereans were commended because they:
“…received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
The authority is not in the preacher; the authority is in the Word of God.
Paul Taught That We Must Withdraw from Those Who Teach Against the Doctrine
The apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Rome:
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
Notice carefully Paul’s words:
“Note” — “contrary to the doctrine” — “avoid them.”
This is not merely a matter of identifying error. There is also a responsibility to withdraw from those who persistently promote that error.
Paul continues:
“For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18).
Here we find a very important warning: false teachers can use smooth words and flattering speech to deceive people who are not well grounded in the Word of God.
For this reason, a church must be very careful about whom it invites to occupy its pulpit.
The Church Must Not Participate in the Works of Error
Paul wrote:
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).
If a preacher is publicly promoting false doctrine, a congregation should not become the means by which that teaching receives greater exposure.
We must ask ourselves a serious question:
Can a church say that it does not agree with the error, while at the same time giving that person its pulpit, promoting him, inviting him to preach, and publicly presenting him as a trustworthy man?
We must seriously consider the influence we are providing.
There is a difference between inviting someone to biblically confront his error and inviting him as an approved preacher or teacher to present his teachings before the congregation.
The Bible Teaches Us to Be Careful with Those Who Do Not Abide in the Doctrine of Christ
The apostle John wrote:
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God…” (2 John 9).
He then adds:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 10–11).
This passage deserves our attention.
John is not teaching that we should be discourteous toward everyone who holds an incorrect idea. The context deals with those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and who come promoting error.
The lesson is clear: we must not provide support, approval, or a platform that helps promote false doctrine.
“But He Is Not Going to Teach the Error He Holds, Some Say”
One excuse that some people use to justify inviting preachers who teach error is:
“Brother, he is not going to teach the subject on which he is wrong. He will only preach the topic we assigned to him.”
Brethren, we must be very careful with this way of thinking.
If we know that a man is publicly promoting a doctrine contrary to the Word of God, why should we give him a platform so that he may be presented to others as a trustworthy teacher?
The issue is not only what subject he is going to preach that evening. We must also consider what message we are communicating by inviting him.
When a congregation publicly invites a man to preach, many people naturally conclude:
“This church trusts this brother and considers him to be a faithful man.”
That is why we must be careful.
Paul said:
“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily…” (1 Timothy 5:22).
Although the immediate context concerns the laying on of hands (delegating responsibilities), the principle of not approving of or associating ourselves hastily with someone without careful evaluation is also important.
A Good Preacher Does Not Turn Error into Truth
Sometimes we hear:
“But brother, he is an excellent preacher.”
“This brother is an expert in the Biblical languages.”
“This brother is highly respected among the churches of Christ.”
A man may be an excellent speaker and, at the same time, be wrong in his doctrine.
The ability to speak well does not determine the truthfulness of a message.
Paul said:
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Corinthians 1:17).
Eloquence must never replace truth.
Paul also said:
“For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
What should impress the church is not merely how a man preaches, but what he preaches.
We Must Not Be Followers of Men
One of the great dangers within the church is developing loyalty to certain preachers instead of developing loyalty to Christ.
Paul rebuked this spirit when he said:
“For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4).
The question we should ask is not:
“Who said it?”
But:
“What does the Bible say?”
Paul himself said:
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
The final authority does not belong to any preacher, elder, evangelist, Bible teacher, or lectureship speaker. The authority belongs to Christ and His Word (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17).
What Kind of Errors Are Being Promoted?
The problem of providing a platform to those who teach error is not merely theoretical. There are doctrines and practices that can have serious spiritual consequences.
For example, some teach that a couple can simply live together and consider themselves married without respecting the applicable civil laws, ignoring biblical principles concerning marriage, civil authority, and the sanctity of the marriage relationship (Romans 13:1–7; Hebrews 13:4). Such people remain in this condition because of preachers who convince them that they are right before God.
Others have promoted erroneous concepts concerning the qualifications for elders and deacons, attempting to modify or minimize the qualifications established by God.
However, Paul said:
“A bishop then must be blameless…” (1 Timothy 3:2).
And again:
“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God…” (Titus 1:7).
We do not have the authority to change the qualifications God has established. This matter must be reasoned about correctly. If I can change one requirement, then I can change them all. No brother qualifies to serve as an elder or deacon if he does not meet all of the requirements presented by the Holy Spirit in His Word.
There are also those who teach that some parts of worship are more important than others, creating a hierarchy that God has not established. Some have concluded that the most important part of our worship to God is the Lord’s Supper. This conclusion is not supported by the Bible. Every act of worship holds a great degree of importance.
We must remember what Jesus said:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
Our worship must be according to God’s truth (John 17:17), not according to human preferences.
Others teach incorrectly concerning salvation and obedience to the gospel, causing people to believe that they can be right before God without obeying the commands of the gospel as God has instructed.
However, Paul spoke of those:
“…who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
The same apostle taught that the Romans had:
“obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered” (Romans 6:17).
Biblical doctrine must be believed, taught, and obeyed.
We must also be careful not to call something sinful when God has not called it sinful. The Bible teaches that we must speak according to the words of God:
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11).
We do not have the right to turn our opinions, preferences, or traditions into divine laws. There is no biblical authority to teach that celebrating a birthday is sinful before God. By this, I am not referring to a birthday celebration in which practices contrary to God’s will are involved, but rather to the simple observance of a birthday.
The Church Has the Responsibility to Protect the Flock
The elders of the church have a special responsibility to protect the congregation.
Paul said to the elders of Ephesus:
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of the Lord…” (Acts 20:28).
Then he warned them:
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29).
And he added:
“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30).
Notice the seriousness of these words.
The flock needs protection.
A church should not wait until many souls have been affected before it begins taking false doctrine seriously.
Paul said:
“Therefore watch…” (Acts 20:31).
Spiritual vigilance is part of the responsibility of the leaders of the church.
The Church Must Contend for the Faith
Jude wrote:
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Why was it necessary to contend?
Because:
“For certain men have crept in unnoticed…” (Jude 4).
The Lord’s church must defend the truth without hatred, arrogance, or a carnal spirit, but also without cowardice and without compromising the truth.
Paul said:
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).
We Must Love People, but We Must Also Love the Truth
It is important to clarify something: rejecting false doctrine does not mean that we hate the person who teaches it.
Paul said:
“Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:15).
The purpose of Biblical correction is not to destroy people, but to save souls and preserve the purity of the church.
James wrote:
“Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).
Therefore, we must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), but we must never sacrifice truth in order to maintain human relationships.
What Should We Do, Then?
Congregations should establish clear biblical principles when selecting men who will be invited to preach.
Before inviting a preacher, we should ask:
- Is he faithful to the doctrine of Christ? (2 John 9; Titus 2:1; 1 Peter 4:11)
- What does he publicly teach concerning important doctrinal issues?
- Is his teaching in agreement with the Scriptures? (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 1:13)
- Is he willing to defend the whole truth? (Jude 3)
- Does his life support what he preaches? (Matthew 7:20; 1 Timothy 4:12)
- Will his influence help or spiritually harm the congregation?
- Are we presenting this man as someone worthy of trust before our young people, families, and new converts?
We must not be naïve.
A congregation may be doctrinally sound in its statement of faith, yet gradually become weakened through the men whom it allows to teach from its pulpit.
Brethren, a platform is an opportunity for influence. When a church invites a man to preach, it is not merely giving him a microphone; it is giving him access to the minds and hearts of people.
Therefore, we must be extremely careful.
We cannot say:
“It does not matter what he teaches elsewhere.”
We cannot say:
“Here he will only preach on another subject.”
We cannot say:
“He is an excellent speaker.”
We cannot say:
“Everyone knows and respects him.”
We cannot say:
“We can agree to disagree.”
The question that must determine our decision is:
Is he faithful to the Word of God?
Paul said:
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
John said:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him…” (2 John 10).
Jude said:
“…contend earnestly for the faith…” (Jude 3).
And the apostles declared:
“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
The loyalty of the church must be to Christ, not to men.
We must not protect the reputation of a preacher at the expense of truth. We must not protect friendships at the expense of sound doctrine. We must not protect events, conferences, or evangelistic campaigns at the expense of the purity of the church.
Christ died for His church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25), and we have the responsibility to respect, defend, and preserve the truth He has given us.
Therefore, let us be careful about whom we invite, whom we recommend, whom we support, and whom we place before the church as a teacher of the Word of God.
May we never forget Paul’s words:
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).
And may our resolution always be:
“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
