FALSE TEACHERS (snapshot)
What people think it means …
Anyone who:
• challenges patriarchy
• questions tradition or authority
• disagrees with my theology
• interprets Scripture differently than I was taught
• speaks from lived experience instead of a pulpit
• threatens institutional stability
• exposes abuse or challenges systems that benefit leadership
• or a woman who teaches or preaches
In short: someone who makes me uncomfortable with the Bible.
What it actually means (Biblically):
Scripture defines false teachers by what they teach and what their teaching produces (Matthew 7:16–20).
False teachers:
• distort the Gospel to gain power, control, or security
• teach selectively, avoiding the whole counsel of God
• burden others while protecting themselves
• produce fear, silence, and dependency, not freedom
Jesus warned about wolves who look religious (Matt 7:15).
Paul warned about “another gospel” even when it sounds convincing (Gal 1:8).
How it’s often misused:
“False teacher” has become a shortcut accusation. It is used to shut down dialogue without discernment.
Instead of examining fruit, we defend systems.
Instead of testing doctrine, we protect power.
Sometimes women are targeted.
Often anyone who exposes bias, abuse, or imbalance is.
Why it matters:
Because when this term becomes a weapon:
• abuse goes unchecked
• harmful theology survives
• truth-tellers get silenced
• Christ is misrepresented
• hearts are turned from Christ
Jesus said we’d know false teachers by their fruit (Matthew 7:20).
If a teaching excuses harm, demands silence, or protects power; pay attention.
Disagreement isn’t the danger.
Distortion is.
— RJB
What people think it means …
Anyone who:
• challenges patriarchy
• questions tradition or authority
• disagrees with my theology
• interprets Scripture differently than I was taught
• speaks from lived experience instead of a pulpit
• threatens institutional stability
• exposes abuse or challenges systems that benefit leadership
• or a woman who teaches or preaches
In short: someone who makes me uncomfortable with the Bible.
What it actually means (Biblically):
Scripture defines false teachers by what they teach and what their teaching produces (Matthew 7:16–20).
False teachers:
• distort the Gospel to gain power, control, or security
• teach selectively, avoiding the whole counsel of God
• burden others while protecting themselves
• produce fear, silence, and dependency, not freedom
Jesus warned about wolves who look religious (Matt 7:15).
Paul warned about “another gospel” even when it sounds convincing (Gal 1:8).
How it’s often misused:
“False teacher” has become a shortcut accusation. It is used to shut down dialogue without discernment.
Instead of examining fruit, we defend systems.
Instead of testing doctrine, we protect power.
Sometimes women are targeted.
Often anyone who exposes bias, abuse, or imbalance is.
Why it matters:
Because when this term becomes a weapon:
• abuse goes unchecked
• harmful theology survives
• truth-tellers get silenced
• Christ is misrepresented
• hearts are turned from Christ
Jesus said we’d know false teachers by their fruit (Matthew 7:20).
If a teaching excuses harm, demands silence, or protects power; pay attention.
Disagreement isn’t the danger.
Distortion is.
— RJB