Hey, everyone, this is Tony with a little production note before we begin. You know, just when you cannot imagine John Piper's voice diving any lower than it already is, here we are. It's bronchial stuff of some sort, and it's plunging Pastor John into new realms of sub-bass that only a Hollywood movie trailer voiceover guy could probably normally reach.

And that's true here for about the next week or so. Alas, here's today's episode. Pastor John, here's a question from Caden in Boca Raton, Florida. "Hello, Pastor John. After seeing the documentary American Gospel, I was conflicted because I'm not sure if I'm supposed to call out false teachers. 2 Peter 2, verses 1 to 3 make it obvious that there will be false teachers, but the text also doesn't say we should point them out.

I have heard both sides to this argument, but I'm still not quite sure. I want to be careful not to pronounce judgment before the time." 1 Corinthians 4, 5. Does this passage apply here in this situation? Are we taking a judgment that isn't ours to take, or should we rest in God's ultimate knowledge?

And if a prominent false teacher is to be called out, who does this, where, and how? Maybe it would be helpful to step back first and get the bigger picture of the New Testament response to those who live and teach in ways that lead others into error and ruin, and then zero in on 1 Corinthians 4, 5 and some guidelines for how we should speak and write about such people.

So let's begin with Jesus. Matthew 7, 15. "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." And the word "beware" means all of us should be alert, but especially shepherds, to identify not just false teaching, but false teachers whose ways are subtle, like they're clothing themselves with lamb's wool while they're wolves.

And Paul used the same Greek word for "beware" in Acts 20 when he said, "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves"—same as Jesus—"fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." Acts 20, 28.

Jesus used the same word again in Matthew 16, 6, but he got more specific. He said, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Paul had the same kind of group in mind, the same kind of error in mind in Philippians 2—no, Philippians 3, verse 2 and verse 18.

"Look out for the dogs." There it is. "Look out for the dogs. Look out for the evil workers. Look out for those who mutilate the flesh." And verse 18, "For many of whom I have told you often and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ." Then in Romans 16, 17, he warned, "Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.

Avoid them." To avoid them, you have to know who they are, right? You can't avoid somebody if you don't know who they are. - Right. - This idea of identifying and avoiding shows up in 1 Corinthians 5, 11, 2 Thessalonians 3, 6, verse 14, 2 Timothy 3, 4, 2 John 1, 10.

In other words, Christians and shepherds in particular should be discerning and alert to behavior and teaching that dishonors Christ and destroys people and not treat it in a casual or harmless way. And then in 1 Timothy 5, 19, Paul went beyond "avoid them" to "rebuke them publicly." So speaking of elders who persist in error, he said, "Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

As for those who persist in sin," and I think that could be sin of false doctrine or sin of evil behavior, "as for those who persist," they don't accept rebuke, "as for those in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all so that the rest may stand in fear." And then he went on and actually named destructive false teachers, "Demus, in love with the present world has deserted me," 2 Timothy 4, 10.

"You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phidulas and Hermogenes," 2 Timothy 1, 15. "By rejecting faith and a good conscience, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander," 1 Timothy 1, 19. "Their talk will spread like gangrene.

Among them are Philetus," 2 Timothy 2, 16. So Paul names at least six false teachers that the church should watch out for. So I infer from Jesus and Paul and Luke and John that false teaching and destructive behavior are present dangers in this fallen world for the church, and that all of us, especially shepherds, pastors, should be alert and discerning to identify and in appropriate ways expose, expose in order to protect the flock.

We should expose them and minimize the spread of the gangrene, as Paul calls it. Now, in 1 Corinthians 4, 5, Paul is talking about how the Corinthians should assess Paul and Cephas and Apollos, because the people are choosing sides and boasting in their favorite teacher. He says, "For I am not aware of anything in myself, anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.

It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore don't pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things that are now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one," Paul, Cephas, Apollos, "each one will receive his commendation from God." So Cain is asking, asking me, asking us, whether the words "do not pronounce judgment before the time" should keep us from identifying false teachers or from naming them.

I don't think so. "Don't pronounce judgment before the time" means don't do what only Christ can do at that last day, before the time, that time of judgment, the day of judgment. Don't presume to know the heart like Jesus will know the heart on that day. Only Christ will "bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart." But for now, our job is indeed to do mouth judgment, writing judgment, behavior judgment—not heart judgment, but mouth and writing and behavior judgment.

When a mouth speaks unbiblical, destructive teaching, when a blog or an article or a book publishes unbiblical and destructive teaching, when a body, a human body, a physical body, behaves with unbiblical and destructive behavior, in all these cases, we are to be discerning and, according to Ephesians 5:11, expose the error.

It says, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them, censure them, show them to be wrong," is what that "elenchos" word means. So, the question is, how and when, not if. And here, I think the Bible calls for wisdom rather than telling us who and when and how.

The question we ask is, how can we best, in our situation, with our gifts and our responsibilities, how can we best help most people believe and live the most truth, and how can we protect the most people from destructive beliefs and behaviors? And here are some factors, perhaps, to consider when deciding whether to name a false teacher.

The urgency of your naming a false teacher increases. So, we've got, what, five factors that would cause the urgency to name would increase if, one, the seriousness and deceitfulness of the error is great; two, the size of the audience gets bigger; three, the duration of their ministry—do they make one blunder, or are they constantly doing it?—four, the vulnerability of the people for whom you are responsible; five, the role you have in influencing shepherds who really need to be discerning for who the false teachers are.

And when you do name a false teacher, best to do it in a setting where you do more than name-drop. You explain the error, you give reasons for rejecting it, you communicate complexities, you set a tone of longing for truth and love, you know, just slinging mud. The last thing I would say is, let your teaching be so powerful in clarifying the greatness and the beauty and the worth of God's truth that your people will smell error before it infects their lives.

The shape of error is always changing. You can't preach enough negative sermons to stay ahead of it, and you don't have to. The best protection against the darkness of error is the light of truth. Really good. Thank you, Pastor John. And thanks for subscribing to the Ask Pastor John podcast in your favorite podcast app or on YouTube.

We appreciate having you along. Well, and next time we're going to plunge back into contemporary worship music lyrics. And I know how much all of you love episodes on contemporary worship music lyrics. We're plunging back in on Friday. I'm your host Tony Reiki. We'll see you then. you you you you you you you you you