False Teachings

False prophets and teachings are something that Paul warns against in his letters to various churches.

Colossians 2:4-23
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile (deceive) you with enticing words
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taugth abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with teh circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humily and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind,
19 And not holidng the Head, form which all the body by joints and bands having nurishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
24 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

In verse 8, spoil can also be rendered "carry you away from the truth by false teaching" as noted in the comments section of my Bible.

1 Timothy 4:3-7
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

1 Timothy 6:1-10
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctirne be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Titus 1:10-16
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

How do we know who is a "false prophet"? I think the only way to know is to compare what that person is saying to the Word of God, the only true word there is. Until then we have no idea who is teaching the truth and who is trying to lead us astray.

One of the most common false teachings I have come across are the teachings about meat. Which meat is okay to each and which meat we should not eat as Christians. There are quite a few "Torah Observant" Christians who obey the OT laws and I'm trying to even remember the reasoning why I was told we should still obey OT law on that, but I can't seem to at the moment. I personally am not convicted of that, I do not believe that as Christians today we need to obey the OT laws because as the Bible says, we are no longer bound by the Law of Moses because we have been saved by the Grace of God and His sacrifice of His only son, Jesus Christ our Lord. But I will not and do not judge those who feel they are still bound by some laws of the OT.

Do you obey the Old Testament laws or are you a Christian of the New Testament?

Blessings in Christ,

1 Tim 2:11-12

1 Timothy 2:11 Let the women learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

What exactly does this mean? To what extent should a woman not teach?

I take it to mean that in church a woman should not give her interpretation of scripture or ask questions when in the presence of men her own age or older. The church that I have attended the past couple weeks separate the adult women and men for Sunday School so in that case I do believe it would be okay for a woman to give her interpretation or ask questions (the teacher is a woman as well). This church also has the teen and adult women to teach the young children up to the age of 8 approximately. I believe that is okay because in a home setting, the wife/mom is still the primary teacher up until this age. I think 8 is usually the time then when the man/husband takes over the scriptural teaching for the boys of the family but the woman/wife still leads her daughters. Do I think it would be wrong to have a man teach all ages of children? No, but I also know that sometimes younger children are more likely to shy away from a man they are not familiar with than to shy away from a woman they are not familiar with. Although, most of the people in this church are so close that they know everyone... but it does not mean that the children understand who someone is :)

Blessings in Christ,