Have you been hurt by a false teacher in your church? In the past few years, I’ve had direct interaction with at least four leaders who I believe to be false in their teachings and actions. I want to encourage and help you with what I’ve learned about dealing with false teachers.

My Experiences with False Teachers

For my whole life, I have loved God’s church. The church has blessed me with opportunities to worship, learn, serve and make lifelong friends. I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for godly leaders in the church.

However, the Bible warns us that false teachers hide in the church like weeds among wheat. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be harmless but waiting to pounce at the right time. Their numbers are growing in the days leading up to Jesus’ return, and we need to be aware of their presence.

One of my weaknesses is being too trusting. With each of the four leaders, I believed the best about them at first. I respected the authority God gave them. Since I thought of them as my brothers and sisters in Christ, I wanted them to succeed.

Over time, I noticed signals that didn’t jive with what I knew to be true about godly leaders in the church. As these signals increased in quantity and intensity, I knew there was a problem. After these leaders caused significant harm, I decided to step out from under their influence. I’ve never regretted my decisions to leave, except that I wish I had made them sooner.

It took a long time to get over the wounds these false teachers caused. I know that if you are reading this post, you are also hurting. I want to help you recognize what a false teacher looks like and know what to do next.

Portrait of a False Teacher

Every false teacher has a unique personality with different characteristics. However, if you notice several of these signs in patterns over a period of time, you may have a false teacher in your church. These are signs I saw in the four leaders with whom I interacted.

They use charisma to hook you.

Few of us would accept a truly terrible leader at the start. With their veneer of charm or clever speaking ability, they win you over. Once you are hooked, they find ways to deceive you. This is a classic abuser tactic.

They are puffed up with knowledge.

These leaders take great pride in their studies. They may brag about knowing more than you because they studied Greek or Hebrew. Some may use their knowledge to condescend to you, keeping you under their thumbs. They use their knowledge to shut you up, because how can you, an ordinary Christian, question what they learned at seminary? (This is bunk, since the Holy Spirit lives in all true believers!)

They use their calling as license.

When I was a university student, I remember one of my teachers asking us to fill out a review survey at the semester end. But she arrogantly said she wouldn’t apply our feedback since she already had tenure. False teachers have that same cavalier attitude, because they feel God has approved them through their calling. They abuse their privilege by treating it as license to do whatever they please with no fear of repercussions. Due to the current shortage of pastors in the American church, I believe that unless false teachers commit gross negligence or sexual misconduct, the ruling bodies will remain afraid to remove them from their positions.

They are driven by power and/or money.

You probably won’t notice this at first. But over time, look for clues that this person enjoys lording power over subordinates. They may feign humility, yet feel entitled to the church or ministry coffers. You may only see this sign if you serve on the board or work for the church or ministry.

They use shame and criticism to control.

Unfortunately, I regularly heard this tactic in sermons. If you regularly hear phrases like “you’re a train wreck” from the pulpit without any grace to cover the wound, consider this a major red flag. Jesus refused to throw stones of judgment when he had the power and right to do so. Yet he saved his harshest words for the religious elites who sneered at those who had fewer privileges, resources or education.

They lack spiritual maturity and/or integrity.

When I was a secretary at a Christian high school, I was one of the lowest people on the totem pole there. Yet I understood and accepted the high standard of behavior expected from me even in that position. Pastors and church leaders know they are held to a high standard in their positions. But false teachers will pooh-pooh this responsibility. If you see signs like self-pity, whining, complaining, and blatant worldliness, your leader lacks spiritual maturity. If your leader uses underhanded tactics for personal gain or pleasure, he or she lacks integrity.

They distort the truth of God’s Word.

Our enemy Satan does not want false leaders to present outright lies, because we will scatter. But just as Satan twisted God’s Word at the very first temptation, false leaders will twist the truth and deceive us. These leaders may promote a prosperity gospel rather than the full truth of God’s Word, or they may have a hyper-focus on God’s Law. I left the church I had attended for over 20 years due to false teachings about heaven and how to have a personal relationship with God. It is vital for us to read and study God’s Word on our own, so we can immediately recognize the falsehoods.

They lack a shepherd’s heart.

Jesus referred to himself as the Good Shepherd. He had compassion and care for the people’s needs, and selflessly sacrificed his needs for theirs. False leaders lack empathy. They are primarily concerned with their own wants and needs. They may over-delegate normal responsibilities of a leader’s position. By contrast, they may stick their thumb into every little area of the church in unloving control. A godly leader has a shepherd’s heart, not a selfish heart.

They have an agenda that cannot be challenged.

It’s “my way or the highway” with the false teacher. When challenged with constructive criticism, they deny, blame and/or make excuses. Nothing is ever their fault. You will rarely hear an apology from these leaders. If you do, it will be negated: “I’m sorry, but…” False teachers do not accept responsibility for their actions, because they are self-deceived about their many sins.

They denigrate the legacy of previous leaders.

Building a ministry takes many hours of dedicated hard work, prayers, sweat and tears. A godly leader will honor the legacy of the ones who worked so hard to build the church or the ministry, even if it was clearly imperfect. A false teacher will criticize what previous leaders accomplished, saying they now have to clean up the “mess” left behind.

They resist normal warning signs.

In any business or organization, even in the church, numbers matter. You can’t constantly operate in the red. If attendance and giving have dropped off, and members are consistently transferring out, these are normal red flags. They signal a need for change, or possibly a reconciliation campaign. But a false teacher will wave his or her hand flippantly at these signs until he or she has lost all power, or the money has dried up.

They form their own echo chamber.

No false teacher can thrive on his or her own, just like a bully can’t operate without victims. Expect the false leader to form a tight tribe of supporters. These people may be weak in their faith, afraid of conflict, people-pleasers, or genuinely good-hearted people who feel powerless to stand up for themselves. You also can count on the false teacher to find some wealthy patrons to serve in his or her echo chamber, if money matters to this leader. Warning: you may lose friendships if your friends decide to join this echo chamber.

They break the confidentiality code.

Certain callings require strict adhering to a confidentiality code, but a false teacher will knowingly break it. Doctors, attorneys and pastors have what is referred to a “client privilege” code of conduct. This means that whatever you share with them in confidence, they cannot share unless it directly puts someone else in harm’s way. However, in my personal experience, false teachers have broken confidentiality to form their echo chambers and push “unwanted” members out of the fellowship. They may do this in sermons, speeches or personal conversations. This is a fear tactic, because you won’t want to confront them knowing they will spread your personal information in front of others. False teachers are bullies at heart, and this is one of their most despicable traits.

How to Deal With a False Teacher

There are two ways to deal with a false teacher: stay or leave. Leslie Vernick encourages people in difficult marriages to either “stay well” or “leave well.” I believe her wise advice also applies to dealing with a false teacher. Here are tips for either decision God leads you to make, which should be covered in prayer and wise counsel.

How to Stay Well

You may not be ready or willing to leave yet, especially if you have been a church member for a long time. It’s possible that God is calling you to stay to help others who are hurting. This is a guideline of the steps you can take to stay well.

Refuse to gossip.

Even if you have every reason to feel negative about the false teacher, gossip destroys the church. However, this situation is so toxic, you can’t hold it all in yourself. I recommend speaking with a Christian counselor and/or one trusted Christian friend outside of your church. This tiny circle of supporters can serve as your pressure release valve when things get especially tough.

Form your own mini-ministry.

If you stay because you feel like you need to help others, this is your own mini-ministry. You can encourage and pray for others in your church. You can also counter the false teaching by leading a Bible study in your home. If God is calling you to serve others in this situation, he will show you where you need to serve. Ask God how you can minister to others despite the challenges.

Fill yourself up elsewhere.

If you are exposed to a false teacher, you have a crucial responsibility to fill your heart and mind with God’s truth. Make personal Bible study and regular Scripture meditation a high priority. Listen to other Bible-based podcasts and sermons every week. This is an essential step if you decide to stay, because it will serve as your gas mask against the toxicity. I also recommend putting on the armor of God by meditating on this passage on a regular basis.

Take breaks.

It’s OK to attend a different church once in a while, or even skip a Sunday. You need that time to refresh and recharge. Throw in a different experience at least once per month and use it to gauge your spiritual and emotional health. I also recommend frequent check-ins with someone outside your church circle. If they notice signs of negativity, bitterness or depression in you, it may indicate your need to leave your church permanently.

Know your limits.

It may be wise to compose a list of deal-breakers. What would the false teacher have to do to force you to confront or leave? Review the portrait above. If any of those signs haven’t occurred yet in your church, what will you do when you see them? Don’t push yourself past your limits, or you may become the worst version of yourself.

How to Leave Well

After much prayer and consideration, you may be prepared to leave your church. You can leave “unwell” by carrying hurts and bitterness with you and writing off church as a whole. However, you and I both know this isn’t good for you. On the other hand, you can leave well by following these steps.

Refuse to gossip.

No, this isn’t a typo. I mean to carry it over again. After you leave, you may be even more tempted to gossip than when you stayed! I have faced this temptation myself. You can either refuse to speak about the false teacher altogether, or decide to speak only about the positive things you noticed. This takes practice, but it will get easier with time.

Grieve.

Leaving your church is a significant loss. If you have served on any type of team there, it will hurt even more. You’ll need to go through all the grief steps of denial, anger, bargaining and sadness before you reach acceptance. I am still grieving the losses that I never thought I’d face. Part of grieving this loss is showing gratitude for my current season and praising God for rescuing me. The grief process will take time, and be sure to allow it for yourself.

Pray for the false teacher.

Please take a moment to read 2 Peter 2. This chilling scripture shows the terrible fate in store for the false teacher if he or she does not repent. The Bible tells us that spiritual teachers will be judged more strictly than the rest of us. One of my main ways of healing has been praying for the leaders after I left. As much as they hurt me, I don’t want them to suffer these negative consequences that they don’t see coming. Praying for these leaders softens my heart toward them and helps me forgive.

Connect with a new church.

Don’t allow the false teacher to sabotage your view of the Church as a whole. There are so many good churches out there. Every single one is imperfect, but most of them are not led by a false teacher. There is still hope. Attending new churches is one of my least favorite activities as an introvert, so I understand how hard it is. It can be easier if you attend with a friend or family member first, or possibly visit a Saturday night service that isn’t as crowded. Just don’t give up on church due to your bad experience. God wants you to fellowship with the body of Christ and contribute your spiritual gifts in a new context. This means being involved in a local church, not only listening to podcasts or watching it on television.

Additional Resources on False Teachers

I found these articles and videos to be helpful. I hope they assist you in making your decision to stay well or leave well. You can also contact me here if you want me to pray for you.

7 False Teachers in the Church Today – video by Tim Challies

7 Traits of False Teachers – The Gospel Coalition

The Surprising Truth About False Teachers – Desiring God

If you liked this post, I would appreciate your shares on social media!

This post may be linked up at these linkups.

If you make a purchase through the provided links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for supporting my writing ministry!

My weekly newsletter Tea on Tuesdays is delivered at 3:00 p.m. Central time every Tuesday. I write an exclusive devotion for you each week that I share with you first.

To receive the newsletter, please subscribe below. I can’t wait to share personally with you each week!