In today’s society, if a ministry has a large following, it is a sign of a false teacher. How much false doctrine constitutes a false teacher? The standard is “no other gospel.” It does not say you can be off on some things.
3If 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; (1st Timothy 6:3)
When Christians agree to disagree over what is written in the Bible, and only the "essential" matters matter, an unbiblical simplicity resides in the mind and a deadly cancer grows in the hearts of false Christians who learn to scorn and hate knowledge. This concept is referred to as leaven in Scripture.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; (2nd Timothy 2:16-17)
They will become complacent, and that will destroy them.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (Proverbs 1:32).
However, Christ said,
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
It is trust in the word of God that saves, as James and Luke writes,
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:11-12)
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:5-6)
And repeated in the New Testament:
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)
If you are directed or led away from faith in God’s word, whatever the issue, your soul is in danger of being destroyed. False teachers create a wide theological path that supposedly leads to heaven, but in reality leads to hell; because people are led to "not receive the love of the truth"
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2nd Thessalonians 2:10)
This allows for many who do not see eye to eye regarding a myriad of Scriptural subjects, referred to as the broad way, and it breeds complacency in the minds of the people and allows them to continue to live a lie.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
There are no Biblical issues to be agreed to disagree upon, because Scripture plainly warns,
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. (1st Timothy 6:3-5)
This is what the false Christian world has done, strayed from the words of knowledge and followed after a broad path that leads to hell.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (2nd Timothy 4:3)
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2nd Peter 2:18)
In contrast to the wide path is the narrow way is that which leads to life. Jesus did not teach there were many paths, but only one. Jesus preached about contriteness, mourning, meekness, hunger, thirst, purity, peace, persecution, anger, divorce, adultery, oaths, love, giving, prayer, forgiveness, fasting, possessions, needs, worrying, judging, rebuking, seeking, false prophets, etc. He made no distinction concerning any of the matters He addressed in His sermon. It all matters eternally to Him.
Because, heaven is for those who hear His words and do them and hell is for those who hear His words and do not do them. As Proverbs instructs,
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Believing in Jesus is believing and obeying the Bible.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2nd John 1:9)
We do not need the traditions of men to understand the Word of God, the church ministers or philosophy books. If anyone should tell you this, they have the antichrist spirit and are false teachers. All we need is Christ, His Word and the Holy Spirit.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2nd John 1:7)
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 fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:8-10)
Many teach that you can know Christ, be saved and continue to live in sin without repentance. This causes a great deal of confusion and frustration among true Christians.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1st John 2:4)
Any teacher who is well spoken of is a false teacher. Jesus said,
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18-19)
If you see someone who is loved by the world, you can rest assured he is a false