Unfortunately, there are some pastors who use the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a means to manipulate and deceive Christians. False preachers in church are particularly dangerous in our generation because they use their position of authority to spread harmful teachings and take advantage of vulnerable individuals.

In this article, I will explore some warning signs to look out for and provide tips on how to protect yourself from the influence of the false preachers in church today.

Who are False Preachers and Why are They Dangerous?

False preachers in the church are leaders who use religion as a means to manipulate and deceive others. They use their position of authority to spread harmful teachings and take advantage of vulnerable new Christian converts and the careless ones.

False teachers are dangerous because they often have large followers and are regarded as trusted men of God of high authority. So, it takes the mighty power of the LORD to convince their followers that the false teachings are misconception of the scriptures and bunch of lies.

The dangerous act of false preachers in church leads to:

1. Emotional manipulation

2. Financial exploitation

3. Blindfolded mind

4. Lukewarm Christians

5. Hypocrite

6. Backslide from the path of holiness and

7. Leading church members to the path of Hell

Our generation is so corrupt that if you don’t learn how to read and understand the Bible yourself in the presence of the LORD you can’t escape been deceived by the brilliant false preachers in church!

7 Major Ways to Recognize False Preachers in Church

1. Expert in Prophecies

I am not saying every prophecy is false but watch out, the false preachers in the church claim to have received divine revelation outside the scripture. And in reality, they are being commissioned and empowered by the Devil to mislead and disrupt the church.

For instance; False speaking in tongues is the order of the day in many churches today and miracles through demonic manipulations and materialism are uncountable.

All prophecies that you cannot find the root in the word of Jesus Christ should be discarded.

Jesus Christ warns that: “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

2. Good Teachers of Heresies

False preachers in the church can be dangerous and misleading, especially those who teach heresies that contradict essential Christian beliefs.

These false teachers, also known as heretics, may appear charismatic and knowledgeable, but their teachings can lead their followers astray from the truth.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1)

Some heretic teachings include:

1. Holy Trinity; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

2. God doesn’t care about your dress or make-ups, He only cares about your faith in Jesus Christ.

3. God loves the LGBT so accept them into the church as members. Etc

4. “You cannot be free from sins… always recite psalms… pay money to pastor so he will pray and God can forgive you for daily sins committed…”

3. Excellent Prosperity Preachers

Wealth is good but it becomes a problem when all the interest of your pastor is the amount you contribute financially and cares less about the status of your salvation. Watch out for teachers who are majorly after how you will become rich so that you can bring big cash to church for a big prayer of blessings from him.

They don’t care seriously about your spiritual growth. False pastor will neither scold you for your sinful lifestyle nor instil spiritual discipline into you. They are just after the money you will donate.

I have been to churches where the pastors determine the number of prayer points by the amount you come forward to drop at the altar.

These false preachers, also known as charlatans. They twist the teachings of Jesus Christ and use their position of power to manipulate and exploit their followers for financial gain.

They have many estates, fleets of cars, aeroplanes and massive investments while the large population of their church members becomes poorer.

“Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” (Ezekiel 34:10)

4. Smart at Division

False preachers in church can cause great harm by using false doctrine to divide and disrupt the congregation. These false pastors are often referred to as “The Divider” and their actions can lead to the separation of brothers and sisters in the church.

False teachers are the agents of division in the midst of Christians from the time of Apostle Peter till today. Why do we have many denominations? Jesus Christ did not expect us to have diverse church doctrines. He wants us to preach the Gospel worldwide.

Jesus Christ said to the first set of Christians: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

I feel sad when I hear the false preachers in church announce that the LORD told them to split from a church and to become the overseer of another new named church.”

Note: All pastors will tell you that the name of their churches are not in heaven. You can’t get to heaven and see Catholic, Presbyterian or Pentecostal churches.

All the Christian denominations are man-made caused by false preachers to divide the children of GOD.

5. They are Abusers

False prophets are involved in all forms of sexual abuse, lustful statements, adultery and abuse of power. It is always in the news how some church leaders molest and engage in sexual cults and other unscriptural and abominable acts.

Just run away from such leaders because they belong to the Devil.

6. Based on Speculations

False preachers in the church often fall into the trap of focusing on novelty and speculation rather than the steady doctrine of Scripture.

These false teachers prioritize their own ideas and interpretations over the bulk of the Bible’s content and emphasis. They become obsessed with trivial or novel matters, growing weary of the old truths.

False preachers in the church have been a problem throughout history. These individuals often twist the message of Scripture to fit their own agenda or to gain power and influence over their followers.

For instance, we’ve heard many of them fixing dates for the end time of the world which had repeatedly failed.

7. Tickles their Followers

False preachers in the church, also known as “The Tickler”, prioritize pleasing men over pleasing God. They seek popularity and praise from the world, and in order to maintain their followers’ respect, they only preach the parts of the Bible that are deemed acceptable.

This often means speaking only of happiness and avoiding topics such as sin and hell.

Throughout history, there have been false preachers who have used the church as a platform to spread their own agenda. They often have a charismatic personality and a large following, but their teachings lack substance and depth. I won’t mention names but by their fruits you shall know them.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

How To Test and Discern False Preachers in Church

1. Test their Fruits

When it comes to identifying false preachers in church, you have to make use of the word of GOD and that of Jesus Christ written in the Bible as the standard on your checklist.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves… therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus Christ advises to look at the fruit of their lives, meaning their actions and behavior, as a way to discern their true intentions.

This includes examining their relationships, their treatment of others, and whether their teachings align with the core values of Christianity.

Jesus Christ warns us to be cautious of false preachers who may appear to be righteous but are actually deceitful and harmful. These false teachers may disguise themselves as kind and gentle, but their true intentions are to manipulate and exploit their followers.

It is important to pay attention to their actions and the impact they have on others. Just as a healthy tree produces good fruit, a true preacher will bring positivity and love into the lives of those they lead. However, a false preacher will only bring negativity and destruction.

2. Test their Doctrines

False preachers in the church are those who teach doctrines that contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ and the principles of godliness.

These false teachers are often arrogant and lack true understanding of the faith they claim to represent. It is vital for you to discern the truth and avoid being led astray by false teachings.

False preachers in church can be identified by measuring the doctrines they teach against the sound words of Jesus Christ.

All church doctrines that were not given through Jesus Christ are false. Invite the Holy Spirit into you and once you obey His voice then you are free from the bondage of man-made doctrines all over the Christendom. 

False preachers in the church are dangerous agents of the Devil. They may appear to be holy men of God, but in reality, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, spreading a twisted version of the true gospel. These false prophets are not always easy to spot, as they may use clever tactics to deceive and manipulate their followers.

One of the most common signs is a focus on material wealth and prosperity, rather than spiritual growth and development. False preachers may also use fear tactics to control their followers or make grandiose claims about their own abilities or connections to a higher power.

It is important to remain vigilant and to identify these preachers by their actions and the fruits of their ministry.

You are safe from danger if you only believe and act according to the word of the LORD in the Bible.

May the LORD save us from the destruction of the false preachers in Jesus’ name.