Three ways error enters the Church....

The tests of truth

It is sometimes argued that the sole test of a truth-teller is doctrine: do the writings of this man (or woman) match up, for example, with the Apostles' or Nicene Creed? 

We need to add another vital test - the test of life. Is this teacher fully integrated into the life of a local church and thereby accountable to his brothers and sisters? Or is he/she a lone wolf? 

Only from a godly life rooted and accountable to a local church can true doctrine flow. "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:16)  

Truth never proceeds from a believer isolated from the pillar and foundation of truth. 

So before we examine what someone believes, we must ask their connection to the body of Christ. If he/she pronounces from an ivory palace, if they are disconnected from the church, we should automatically discount their teachings, no matter what hifalutin qualifications they may proffer. 

There are three main sources of error - or better put, three kinds of heretic.

#1 "He's such a clever chappy."

This one catches evangelicals out all the time - especially of the reformed stripe - because they idolise knowledge and education. If a man says he has a DPD, DHL, UPS, Phd, DMin or whatever other strange letters at the end of his name, they're smitten by him. Or if, at the other end of the name, we find "Professor" or some such title, then same thing - clever chappy - we must listen to him. Or if he has written ponderous tomes, however incomprehensible, he must be the real deal. 

This is the only way to explain the inexplicable enchantment of someone like NT Wright among some evangelicals. NT Wright is a gnostic. A gnostic says "there is a secret piece of information outside of Scripture you need in order to really grasp the truth." NT Wright says "you can't understand the New Testament unless you are a first-century historian" (like, guess who?). While it is helpful to have some historical background, the Scriptures interpret the Scriptures, so that a believer with his Bible and the Holy Spirit is far better equipped to understand God's truth than a scholar with the Bodleian libraries at hand. Wright's Gnosticism is conveniently overlooked simply because he is a clever chappy. 

#2 "He's Mr Nice Guy."

False teachers can also masquerade as angels of light. Full of charm, popularity  and charisma - plus perhaps a smattering of good looks - they dazzle and hypnotise their audiences. Someone like Steve Chalke comes to mind. 

#3 "Mr Nasty."

At the other end of the niceness spectrum lies Mr Nasty. These false teachers are well-known to secretly live corrupt lives (in one or more of the following triad's allure - sex, power or money) but their wickedness is completely overlooked by the devoted deluded and sometimes protected by the "touch not my anointed" umbrella. My African friends tell me that this kind abound in their lands. 

In the 70s, 80s and 90s, Christians were warned about the sects and cults. They were few in number, and all easily spotted and defined by name. Today, the internet is awash with a myriad false teachers of whom Jesus warned "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15)

AI: Draw a heretic