Why False Teachers Show Up When Scripture Is Being Taught Clearly

[David]

I want to speak plainly about the Biblical Truth Forum. Some of you may be wondering why we have seen so many people show up lately bringing strange doctrines, attacks on Scripture, speculation, and teachings that do not line up with the Word of God.

Just let me say this: that should not surprise us.

When the light is turned on, bugs show up. When the truth is preached, error starts moving. When the Word of God is opened plainly, the enemy does not sit quietly in the corner and applaud. He tries to confuse, distract, divide, and pull people away from what God has actually said.

That pattern did not start on the internet. It started in the garden.

The serpent did not come to Eve with open atheism. He did not say, “There is no God.” He came with a question: “Yea, hath God said...” ~Genesis 3:1. That has always been one of Satan’s oldest tricks. Question the Word. Twist the Word. Add to the Word. Take away from the Word. Make people wonder whether God really meant what He said.

That same spirit is still working today. I am active on several other forums that call themselves Christian forums. In my opinion, many of them are not truly operating as biblical Christian forums when they allow almost any doctrine to be promoted as long as it is dressed up in religious language. False teaching gets tolerated, Scripture gets twisted, and those who try to correct error from the Bible often get treated like they are the problem.

My signature on those forums points people to Biblical Truth Forum. So yes, it is very possible that some people are finding BTF from those places and coming here to see whether they can bring the same confusion, the same arguments, and the same false teaching into this forum.

But BTF is not going to be that kind of place. We are not here to build a religious debate club where every opinion gets equal authority. We are not here to give every false doctrine a microphone. We are not here to let people turn Scripture into clay and shape it into whatever their system demands.

This forum exists to point people back to the Word of God.

Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” ~John 17:17. Not man’s tradition. Not private visions. Not denominational systems. Not popular teachers. Not internet theories. God’s Word is truth.

And when truth is the foundation, falsehood will always feel exposed.

Jesus warned us plainly: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” ~Matthew 7:15. Notice what He said. They do not come looking like wolves. They come in sheep’s clothing. They come sounding religious. They come using Bible words. They come acting spiritual. But inwardly, their teaching tears at the flock.

Paul gave the same warning to the elders at Ephesus. He said, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” ~Acts 20:29. Then he said, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” ~Acts 20:30.

That is serious. False teaching is not just a difference of opinion. It can wound people. It can confuse new believers. It can pull attention away from Christ. It can replace the clear Word of God with speculation, pride, and man-made systems. It can cost people their very soul.

Peter warned the church too: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you” ~2 Peter 2:1. That phrase matters: “among you.” False teachers do not always stay outside. Sometimes they come right into places where Scripture is being taught and work from within.

Jude said certain men had “crept in unawares” ~Jude 1:4. They slipped in. They blended in. They did not announce their error at the door. But over time, their doctrine exposed them.

That is why BTF must stay watchful. Please hear me. This does not mean every new member is suspicious. It does not mean every disagreement is false teaching. It does not mean someone cannot ask questions, wrestle through hard passages, or grow in understanding. We welcome sincere believers. We welcome honest seekers. We welcome people who are still learning.

But there is a big difference between a humble person asking questions and a proud person pushing error. There is a difference between someone wanting Scripture explained and someone trying to explain Scripture away.

There is a difference between someone saying, “Help me understand this,” and someone saying, “I do not care what the Bible says, I am going to keep promoting my doctrine anyway.”

BTF must be a safe place for people who are genuinely looking for the truth. Not safe for false doctrine. Not safe for wolves. Not safe for endless speculation. Safe for sincere people to come, ask questions, and receive actual biblical answers without being attacked, confused, or pulled off course by false teachers.

That is why moderation matters. Some people think love means letting every voice speak. But Scripture does not teach that. Love protects. Love warns. Love tells the truth. Love does not hand the sheep over to wolves and call it kindness.

Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” ~2 Timothy 4:2. Then he explains why: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” ~2 Timothy 4:3.

We are living in a time when many people want religious talk, but they do not want sound doctrine. They want discussion, but not correction. They want a platform, but not accountability. They want to quote verses, but not submit to Scripture.

That cannot rule this forum. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” ~2 Timothy 3:16. If Scripture corrects us, we bow to Scripture. If Scripture rebukes our belief, our belief must change. If Scripture is silent, we do not pretend God has spoken.

Paul told Titus that a faithful leader must hold fast “the faithful word,” so he may “by sound doctrine both exhort and convince the gainsayers” ~Titus 1:9. Then he says why: “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” ~Titus 1:10.

That is not harsh. That is biblical.

At the same time, we must keep the right spirit. “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” ~2 Timothy 2:24. We do not correct error because we hate people. We correct error because we love Christ, love the Word, and care about those who could be led astray.

So please understand. Sincere questions are welcome here. Honest discussion is welcome here. Growing believers are welcome here. People coming out of confusion are welcome here.

But false doctrine will be challenged. Attacks on Scripture will be corrected. Repeated error will not be allowed to dominate the forum. And those who come only to stir confusion, reject correction, or promote teachings contrary to Scripture will be warned, moderated, or removed.

We are not trying to be cruel. We are trying to be faithful.

A shepherd who sees a wolf and says nothing is not being loving. He is being negligent. A watchman who sees danger and stays silent is not keeping peace. He is failing his post.

BTF is here to keep pointing people back to Christ and His Word.

If people come looking for truth, we want them to find Scripture opened plainly. If people come confused, we want them helped patiently. If people come wounded by false teaching, we want them grounded in the truth.

But if false teachers come here trying to disrupt that work, they will be dealt with.

The flock must be guarded. The Word must be honored. Christ must remain central. That is not optional. That is biblical.