Warring Against False Prophets With the Truth

The spiritual war often involves taking on forces outside the church; however, there is another front – opposing enemies inside the church.  It is this aspect of the fight which the apostle Paul highlights in his writing to a young preacher.  After noting in Titus chapter 1 the qualifications for those who would be bishops or elders, Paul warns Titus (vs. 10-11) with respect to false prophets.  Paul identifies these false prophets as “many rebellious men”— those who are disorderly, unruly, and uncontrolled.  He also writes that they are “empty talkers and deceivers.”  The idea of “empty talkers” is that of “vain talkers”— those who do not preach properly.  They disguise the Word rather than preach it plainly.  They are deceivers.  They flatter men with regard to their sins— tickling the ears of sinners. These false prophets suppress the truth rather than exposing corruption.

Paul goes on to describe the activities of these false prophets.  He says that they were “teaching things which they should not.”  This is a general description of false teaching.  It can include anything which takes away from the glory of God, which undermines the truth, and which promotes loose morals.  Paul also says that these false teachers were “upsetting [or overturning or bringing ruin to] whole houses.”  The verb connotes the raging of the sea which causes the filth and mire at the bottom to float to the top.  This stirring up of matters was causing destruction to whole households.  

But notice that there is a particular reason for these actions by false prophets— it is “for the sake of filthy lucre.”  Religion, power, and money is quite intoxicating.  This is one of the reasons why honest preachers must be content with their wages.  If you are in the ministry for the money, you have the wrong motivation and most likely the wrong doctrine. Those who teach falsehood are greedy.  2 Peter 2:3 declares: “By covetousness they [false prophets] will exploit you with deceptive words.” Philippians 3:19 says that those teachers who are enemies of the cross of Christ are those who “set their mind on earthly things.”  2 Corinthians 2:17 condemns those who were “peddling the word of God.”

Paul concludes this section by instructing Titus as to the action to be taken regarding these false prophets: “it is necessary to silence” them.  It is necessary to shut their mouths.

Of course, this silencing is not to be done via physical means.  Rather, the true man of God engages in spiritual warfare— “pulling down strongholds” and “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).  To silence the false prophets, one must meet their arguments head-on.  And the way to be successful in this intellectual warfare is to read expansively, to think carefully, to write clearly, and to speak persuasively.  He proclaims the heavenly reign of King Jesus; he protects the people; and he neutralizes the opposition.  And all of the members of the church are to support the church and her ministers in this prophetic enterprise.

But in addition to proclamation of the truth in order to silence the opponents, there is another way by which to render them ineffective, and that is through church discipline. Those who refuse to repent are to be cut off—that is, excommunicated—by the leadership of the church if they persist in their error.  But even then, the aim of discipline is always the recovering of those who are in error.  Spiritual warfare is never merely intellectual, but must always be fought by those who are humble and loving— humbled by God’s grace and willing to love.  The silencing of those who oppose the truth is with the hope that they, too, can be saved.

Pastors are engaged in a life-and-death battle— it’s a matter of eternal life or eternal death.  Pastors proclaim the gospel as the only way of salvation, and Jesus as the only Savior, and faith as the only means of salvation.  Opposition must be fought, and enemies must be silenced.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel