Research: Naming Names of Apostates and False Teachers

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CRN has compiled a list of professing Christians to keep an eye on. The list contains churches, movements, organizations, groups, pseudo-Christian cults, woke individuals, those who are deconstructing the long held beliefs of historic, orthodox, biblical Christianity and “frauds, phonies and money-grubbing religious quacks”; likewise, heretics, apostates and false teachers you’ll want to mark and avoid as per Romans 16:17-18 which says: I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” People who pervert the gospel will pay dearly. Here’s what false teachers are in for: “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Galatians 1:9

Jude also deals with counterfeit Christians: “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” Jude 11

In Matthew 7:15-20 the Lord Jesus gave His followers fair warning that we would recognize phonies by their fruits: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

“There’s a difference between error and heresy. Heresy is something that strikes at the very heart of the gospel and of the truth.” RC Sproul

NAMING NAMES (Click on the name then read the articles)

See the list of NAR wolves and their organizations here

See the list of Word of Faith, Health & Wealth, Prosperity Gospel here

See the list of leaders in the Emergent/Emergence/Emerging Church movement here

Jesus Calling Endorsers

Bud Ahlheim put together a list of several high-profile Christians who’ve endorsed the best-selling book Jesus Calling. The thing that’s most troubling about any Christian who touts Jesus Calling is that doing so indicates a lack of spiritual discernment. The author, Sarah Young, claims that she hears directly from Jesus Christ and “with pen in hand” she wrote down the words of the “Jesus” she channels….and then she shared this nonsense in a book. Tim Challies cautioned: “Jesus Calling makes the boldest, gutsiest, and, to my mind, most arrogant claim of any book ever to be considered Christian.” Here’s Bud’s list – some of these folks may surprise you:

Max Lucado, “Pastor and Bestselling Author”

Mark Batterson, Pastor and author of another book of heresy, The Circle Maker

Melinda Gates, Wife of a billionaire

Roma Downey, Catholic Hollywood Mystic and Filmmaker

Rev. James Martin, SJ, Jesuit Priest

Shauna Niequist, “Bestselling Author of ‘Bread and Wind’ and ‘Savor’”

O.S. Hawkins, “Author of the Bestselling ‘The Joshua Code’ and ‘The Jesus Code’”

Dr. Jack Graham, “Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX”

Sheila Walsh, “Bestselling Author and Speaker”

Johnny Hunt, “Pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA”

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Lee, “Speaker for the Award-Winning ‘There’s Hope In America’ Television Series”

Kathie Lee Gifford, “Host of the ‘Today Show’, Author, Singer, and Actress”

Delilah, “Nationally Syndicated Radio Personality, Author, and Songwriter”

Robert J. Morgan, “Pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, TN”

Robert Morris, “Founding Senior Pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas”

Gretchen Carlson, “Television Commentator and Author”

Ainsley Earhardt, “Co-host ‘Fox & Friends First’”

Sean Lowe, “ABC Television’s ‘The Bachelor’ and Author of ‘For The Right Reasons’”

Charlie Daniels, “Award-Winning Country Music Superstar”

Jimmy Wayne, “Country Artist and Bestselling Author of ‘A Walk To Beautiful’”

Diana Hobbs, “President and CEO, ‘Empowering Everyday Women’ Magazine

Katie Farrell, ‘Popular Blogger of ‘Dashing Dish’”

Mike Reed, “Senior Vice President, Salem Media Group’

Scott Sauls, “Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville

Janet Hunt, “First Lady, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA”

Diane Strack, “Author of ‘New Start For Single Moms’”

Josh Warren, “CEO, Purpose Driven Communications”

Rev. Bob Fuguay, “Author, Senior Pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Indianapolis”

Anne Wright, “Wife of Johnson Ferry Baptist Senior Pastor, Bryant Wright”

Emily Ley, “Founder of Emily Ley Lifestyle Brand”

James Robison, “Host of ‘Life Today,’ Founder of Life Outreach International & The Stream Website”

Reba McEntire, “Bestselling Author, Artist and Actress”

Linda Leathers, “Chief Executive Officer, The Next Door”

Dr. Cindy Ryan, “Pastor, Writer, Speaker and Blogger”

Mike Gallagher, “Host of Salem Radio Network’s Mike Gallagher Show”

Kristin Chenoweth, “Emmy and Tony Award-Winning Actress and Singer”

Phil Keaggy, “Guitarist, GMA Dove Award Winner, Grammy Award Nominee”

Lyn Mettler, “Writer and Blogger”

The list is sourced from the promotional website JesusCalling.com. (The site removed the endorsements. Here are the endorsements as well as what the endorsers wrote over at Christianbook.com.)

Calling Out False Teachers By Name – Right Response Ministries interviews Justin Peters.

Discernment Made Easy: A List of Celebrity Christians Who Declare The Bible Insufficient — Justin Peters

There is a biblical mandate for calling out false teachers, or “naming names”:

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 2 Tim 1:15

…holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:19-20

For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 2 Tim 4:10

…and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2 Tim 2:17

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 2 Peter 2:15

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. 2 John 9-11

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:25-28

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – Theological Liberalism: The Classic Collection with R.C. Sproul — We are living in a day when liberal theology has made deep inroads in the church. Many professing Christians and even ordained ministers no longer believe in the authority of Scripture or the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How can people deny these essential doctrines and still call themselves Christians? In this message, Dr. Sproul explains that liberal Christianity is not Christianity at all. It is nothing more than unbelief.

What is Biblical Discernment?