Friends, it’s been on my heart to talk about something that feels more important now than ever before: discerning truth from error. In a world full of noise, it can be really tough to figure out what’s real and what’s not, especially when it comes to our faith. It seems like every day there’s a new teaching, a new movement, or a new voice claiming to have the inside scoop on God’s will.

As mature Christians, we’ve probably seen a lot of things come and go. We’ve watched trends rise and fall, and we’ve likely encountered teachings that sound good on the surface but don’t quite line up with what the Bible says. The concern isn’t new, but the sheer volume of information we’re exposed to is. We’re not just dealing with the occasional charismatic leader down the street; we’re dealing with a global information firehose thanks to the internet and we certainly want to know how to recognize a false teacher.

So, how do we navigate this—how can we recognize false teaching? How do we protect our hearts and minds from being led astray by doctrines that are appealing but ultimately unbiblical?

Ground Yourself in the Word

This might sound simple, but it’s the most crucial step. Our first and best defense against false teaching is a deep and abiding knowledge of Scripture. Think of it like a treasure map. If you know the map by heart, you’ll immediately recognize a counterfeit.

The more time we spend in God’s Word—not just reading it, but studying it, meditating on it, and allowing it to shape our lives—the more we develop a “spiritual palate.” We start to instinctively recognize when something tastes off as we become more capable of discerning the spirit of truth and error. The Holy Spirit, who Jesus promised would guide us into all truth (John 16:13), works through and with the Word. He’ll give us that little nudge, that feeling in our spirit that says, “Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right.”

So, make a commitment to consistent Bible study. Use a good, solid study Bible. If your church has small study groups (homegroups), join one that’s committed to diving deep into the text. Read commentaries from trusted theologians who have dedicated their lives to understanding Scripture. The goal isn’t to become a walking encyclopedia, but to so fill ourselves with God’s truth that there’s no room for error.

Understand the Core Tenets of Faith

False teachings often don’t come at us with a giant sign that says, “Warning: Heresy!” Instead, they often start with a small, subtle shift—a tweak here, a reinterpretation there. That’s why it’s so important to have a firm grasp on the non-negotiable, core tenets of the Christian faith. These are the foundations upon which everything else about our Christianity is built.

With regard to biblical truth, the terms “heresy” and “false teaching” are often used interchangeably, but there is an important distinction—a difference between heresy and false teaching—between them. Heresy refers to a belief or doctrine that fundamentally contradicts a core, essential tenet of our Christian faith. It is a serious deviation from the established and historically accepted doctrine of the church. So, heresy is not just a mistake or a different interpretation; it is actually a denial of a truth that is vital to the gospel itself:

1 Cor. 15:3-4: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…”

So, in order to understand what the meaning of a false teacher is, we ask: “What are some of these core tenets?” They are: the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement (that Jesus died for our sins), the resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith alone. These aren’t just theological talking points; they are the bedrock of our hope.

When a teaching comes along that diminishes the deity of Christ, suggests there’s a way to God other than through Jesus Christ, or claims our salvation is earned through our works, it’s a red flag. We don’t need to be afraid to stand firm on these truths. They have been held by believers for two thousand years for a reason—because they are central to the Gospel message.

Look at the Fruit

Jesus himself gave us a clear test for false prophets in Matthew 7:15-16:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits….”

This principle is just as applicable today. When you encounter a new teaching or a new movement, take a step back and look at the results.

What kind of fruit is this teaching producing in people’s lives? How do we discern right from wrong? Is it leading them to a deeper love for God and others? Is it fostering humility, service, and a desire for holiness? Or is it leading to arrogance, division, and an unhealthy focus on worldly success, personal gain, or self-exaltation?

A true, biblical teaching will always point us toward Jesus and His character. It will lead us to greater love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. If a teaching is producing the opposite, we have a clear warning sign.

Don’t Go It Alone

One of the oldest tricks in the book is to isolate people from their community. Cults and false movements often try to convince people that they have a “special revelation” that the rest of the church just doesn’t get. They encourage you to leave your local church, to cut ties with believers who question them, and to rely solely on their “enlightened” guidance.

This is a dangerous path. God has given us the body of Christ—our local church community—for a reason. We are meant to walk alongside one another, to sharpen each other, and to hold each other accountable. When we are part of a healthy, Bible-believing church, we have a team of people to help us discern. We can talk to our pastors and elders, and we can share our concerns with trusted Christian friends.

Humility is key here. It’s okay to admit you don’t know something or to ask for help. A true believer will welcome questions and a desire for biblical clarity. A teacher who gets defensive or demands blind loyalty is often a sign of a problem.

The Goal of Discernment

Ultimately, the purpose of discernment isn’t to become a self-righteous heresy-hunter. The goal is to protect our own hearts and the hearts of those around us, and to live a life that genuinely reflects the love and truth of Christ.

Adherence to false teaching can do real damage. It can distort our view of God, leading us to believe He is a cosmic genie or a distant, angry judge. It can twist the Gospel, making it about our own performance instead of His grace. This, in turn, affects our conduct. It can make us judgmental, prideful, or spiritually passive. It can harm our relationships with God and with others.

But when we are grounded in truth, our faith becomes a firm foundation. We can weather the storms of life and the winds of doctrine because we are anchored in Christ. We can live with confidence, knowing what we believe and why we believe it. We can love others freely, because our hope isn’t in a flimsy ideology, but in the unshakeable truth of God’s Word.

So, let’s commit together to be students of the Word, to hold fast to the core truths of our faith, to examine the fruit, and to stay connected to the body of Christ. In doing so, we can walk confidently, secure in the knowledge that the One who promised to guide us is faithful and true.

Do you have a personal story of how you’ve had to discern a false teaching or a spiritual trend? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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